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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 OFFICE <leona1940@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <westernunion201174@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:21:35 -0500 (EST)
Subject: WELCOME TO THE WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE

ATTENTION CONCERN YOUR FUNDS.
FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
COTONOU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
WEBSITE; www.westernunion.com
CUSTOMER CARE: ( westernunion201174@yahoo.com.hk )
TEL:+229-96464879
DEAR VALUED CUSTOMER,
 
AS MATTER OF URGENT WE ARE CALLING ON YOUR URGENT ATTENTION CONCERN YOUR FUNDS, PLEASE DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO GET US THE REQUIRED FEE OF $53 THIS IS BECAUSE THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) HAVE  INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THE PAYMENT FILE BACK IF ANY BENEFICIARY HAS FAILED TO CLAIM HIM OR HER FUNDS WITHIN 72 HOURS. WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO ASK THEM TO HAVE PATIENTS WITH YOU TILL YOUR GIVE DATE BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND . WE ARE THE ONE  HOLDING THEM FOR VERY LONG TIME .THIS IS THE INSTRUCTION ALERT WE RECEIVED TODAY.
 
NOTE; WE ARE INSTRUCTED BY THE IMF TO RETURN THE PAYMENT FILE WITHIN 72 HOURS IF THE BENEFICIARY DID NOT COMPLY TO CLAIM HIS/HER FUNDS. WE ARE NOW CALLING ON YOUR URGENT ATTENTION TO RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL ONCE YOU RECEIVE IT AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO SEND REPLY TOGETHER WITH PAYMENT INFORMATION OF THE NEEDED $53 SO THAT YOU WILL START RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT TO AVOID THE IMF BEEN TAKEN THE FUNDS BACK IN NEXT 72 HOURS.
HOWEVER, YOU ARE ADVISED TO GO AHEAD AND SEND THE HOME LAND SECURITY CLEARANCE FEE OF $53 VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM SO THAT WE WILL ASSIST YOU AND OBTAIN THE CERTIFICATE FROM THE CONCERNED OFFICE, BECEUSE THAT IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING YOUR FUNDS OKAY.  HERE IS THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE MONEY.
 
Receiver............................ Chigbata Peter
Country............................ Benin Rep
City..................................... Cotonou
Question........................... God
Answer............................... Bless
Amount ...............................
$53dollars
MT C N ...........................
SENDER..........................

DO SEND US THE MTCN NUMBERS AS SOON AS YOU MADE THE PAYMENT. IF YOU CAN SEND THE FEE TODAY, YOU WILL PICK UP THE FIRST PAYMENT AND WE WILL SEND YOU ANOTHER $5000.00 TODAY AS THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TRANSFER.
 
YOU WILL START RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT IN NEXT 2 HOURS OF RECEIVING SAID FEE FROM YOU. WE ARE ADVISING YOU TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND GET US THE SAID MONEY TODAY AND YOU WILL START RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT IN 2 HOURS OF SENDING THE FEE TO US. MEANWHILE WE ADVISE TO SEND US YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER FOR FAST UPDATE ONCE WE MADE YOUR PAYMENT.
 
THE INFORMATION OF THE  PAYMENT WE MADE TODAY IS ENCLOSED.
 

Sender's Last Name

Prince

Sender's Last Name

Ogbonna

City

Cotonou

Country

Benin Republic

Text question

Payment

Text answer

Made

Amount

$5,000.00

MTCN #

664.0576.456

 

 

FOR SELF-CONFIRMATION,  CLICK ON THIS LINK https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=globalAFTER FILLING THE INFORMATION, CLICK CHECK STATUS.  NOTE THAT IF YOU TRACK THIS INFORMATION, THE STATUS WILL TELL YOU THAT THE FUNDS IS  " Available for pick up by receiver" BUT YOU CAN NOT PICK UP THIS MONEY UNTIL THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE IS OBTAINED.

THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, BENIN REPUBLIC HEAD OFFICE.
 DISPATCHED THIS DAY. FOR INQUIRY, CALL +229-96464879
 
SINCERELY,
REV. MARK JAMES
+229-96464897
Western Union® Money Transfer,
Head Office Benin Republic.
Western Union®
Send Money Worldwide

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