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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AGENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <customercare4@live.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:57:46 +0200
Subject: YOUR FUND AS BEEN SEND TO YOU VIA WESTERNUION MONEY TRANSFER AGENCY

 
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
Niger House western union head office Lagos Nigeria
TELEPHONE NUMBER :(+234)8034229298 WEBSITE; //nigeria.westernunion.com
 
 
 
                       ATTN;BENEFICIARY
I write to inform you that we have already sent you USD5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your Contract  payment of USD10,000,000 via western union by this government.
I called to give you the information through phone as internet hackers were many but i could not reach you yesterday even this morning.So,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can pick up this USD10,000.00 to enable us send another USD10,000.00 by tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only USD10.00.00 per day.Please pick up this information and run to any western union in your country to pick up the USD10,000.00 and send us an email back to send you another payment tomorrow.
 
PAYMENT  Officer: MR CHARLES PRESSLY .
Email: customercare3@hotmail.com
Phone Number:(+234)8034229298
email me once you picked up this USD10,000.00 today.
Here is the western union information to pick up the USD10,000.00,
 
SENDER'S FIRST NAME:..LAWRENCE
SENDER'S LAST NAME:...IGBANUGO
TEST QUESTION:..What Color?
TEST ANSWER:..BLUE
AMOUNT:....$10,000 USD
MTCN....763-024-0543
 
You can track the Validity of the funds on our site  http://nigeria.westernunion.com
I am waiting for your email once you pick up USD10,000.00,
 
YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
 
REGARDS
MR CHARLES PRESSLY
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
 

Anti-fraud resources: