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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 <john_jim@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: w.moneytransferinbeninrep@ymail.com
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:54:27 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Attn, Dear Friend








 







Attn, Dear
Friend.
 
This Message Is From The Western Union To The Owner Of This
E-mail, How Are You Today, 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 Full Compensation Payment Total Sum Of US $1.5 million Via Western
Union As Instructed By Our Government.
 
I Was Calling Your Telephone
Number To Give You The Information Through Phone But You Did Not Pick Up My
Calls Throughout That Yesterday Even This Morning. Now I Decided To Email You
The MTCN And Sender's Name So That You Will Pick Up ThisUSD5000.00 To Enable Us
Send Another Today As You Know We Will Be Sending You Only USD5000.00 Per
Daily.

Please Run To Western Union To Pick Up The USD5000.00 And Call Me
Back To Send You Another Payment Today, Direct Phone Line Is: +229-68018361,
Manager Dr John Race Email: (w.moneytransferinbeninrep@ymail.com) Call Or
Email Me Once You Picked Up This USD5000.00. Here Is The Western Union
Information To Pick Up The Money:

Sender's First Name:___
HENRY
Sender's Last Name:_____ OKAFOR
MTCN:  8957379250
Test
Question......To whom?
Test Answer...... Customer
Amount........ $5,000.00
USD
 
MEANWHILE YOU ARE REQUIRE TO SEND US THE TRANSFERRING FEE WHICH IS
$65 USD FOR THE WHOLE TRANSFER CHARGES, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY REMITTED TO YOUR
NAME, SO WITHOUT THE TRANSFER FEE YOU CAN NOT PICK THE MONEY FOR IT'S ON HOLD
AND THE MTCN CANNOT BE RELEASED TO YOU UNTILL YOU SEND THE TRANSFER FEE, THAT IS
AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF). Please Email Me Your
Direct Telephone Number Because I Need To Be Calling You Once We Send Any
Payment for These
Information's.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL USE
TO SEND THE CHARGE SO THAT YOUR FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE RELEASE TO YOU FOR ANOTHER
TO BE SENT IMMEDIATELY.
 
Receive' Name ...........Mr.Aduno
Everistus
City:................Cotonou
Country:..........Benin
Republic
Question:..........Who is
father?
Answer:...............God
Amount:.................$65
MTCN:........................

Be
advice that $65 renewing file is compulsory as they told me that is the only
money you will pay until you receive your payment completely. Endeavor to E-mail
your direct telephone number because you will call once the payment
information’s is sent to you.
Regards
MRS. ADANNIA EMINENT
Federal
western union Benin Republic






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