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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Customer Care <yusufup812@vodafone.it>
Reply-To: westeruniontransfer.dept32@live.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 07:08:48 -0700
Subject: Money Transfer Control Number: #3282845453

Attention Please,


According to the instruction passed to this Western Union department
from the office Governor of the Central Bank Benin, A total sum of
USD$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars only) Each, has
been instructed to be paid to all the people that there funds transfer
were stopped withheld or confiscated at the Ecowas office from any of
the African Countries,


According to the explanations made, the Central Bank of the Country of
Origin of your fund and the Government, have decided to take over the
issue of your transfer, to save you from all wire transfer problems
you where facing previously.


This is to help us check-mate all the Fraudulent activities going on
here in West Africa at large. You shall be paid bit by bit until your
total sum is completely receive right from your Counter of any Western
Union closest to you. We have been asked to release to you a total of
US$5000.00 in every five Hours (5hours) until the funds is completely
paid out, as that is the maximum limit we are legally allowed to pay
in a particular transaction.


After the failure in the transfer of your fund through other means
which may have been made impossible by the European, American or
British high commission and other bodies, I was ordered from the
office of the President and the Central Bank Of Benin Republic to make
your payment swiftly via this medium, you will be receiving $5000 usd
in every five hours,from the below MTCN number until your payment is
completed.


The Following is the Western Union Money Control Number
(MTCN):3282845453 for verification Kindly visit our official web site
www.westernunion.com Find TRACKING on the top right of the site
page,and kindly insert accordingly this detail Alonzo Holmes, and
3282845453 following the instructions below Money Transfer Control
Number: #3282845453


Sender first name: Alonzo
Sender last name Holmes
Check Status
AND CLICK ON CHECK STATUS


Contact us via mail or telephone
Mr. John Onyeka
Contact E-mail: (westeruniontransfer.dept32@live.com)
Phone: +229 98950263


Provide your full receivers names for the payment and an activation
fee of US$75.00 only for the names to be activated to the mtcn number
you already have, The required fee should be sent through Western
Union or money gram. Upon the receipt of the $75, your receivers name
will be activated and redirect the transfer to enable you pick up your
first installment payment sum of $5000 immediately.


You should send the US$75.00 payment information to us through this
email (westeruniontransfer.dept32@live.com) Note: You can not be able
to picking up the money until your Name is activated to the system.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE REQUIRED FEE OF
US$75.00 VIA WESTER UNION MONEY TRANSFER OF YOUR CHOICE OR MONEY GRAM
CLOSE TO YOU. The Receivers Information For The US$75.00 is as follow:


Receivers name: Nkechikwulu Chinedu
City:Cotonou
Country:Benin Republic
Text Question:To Whom?
Answer: Chinedu
Amount To be send: US$75.00
MTCN#.................


Immediately we receives the payment, we shall activate and redirect
the information given to you to your name to enable you start
receiving your payment immediately. Please Note: this control
number{3282845453} should be kept very safe and secret for your own
security,to avoid someone else tampering with you funds. Call
immediately on this direct phone# +229 9794 8648 for more Details and
directives.


We Congratulate you in Advance.
Mr. John Onyeka
Western Union Customer Care

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