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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: "Mr. Edward Kong" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion.customercares@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:35:28 -0700
Subject: YOUR WU MTCN NO: 1

BANK OF AFRICA
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS 455 NABOKOV,SPANK ROAD
LAGOONS PALER.

Dear Beneficiary,


Bank of Africa,Cotonou Benin Republic have received a payment credit instruction from the (United Nations/Federal Government of Nigeria) to credit your account with your part payment interest sum of US$1,250,000.00 contract Fund/Inheritance fund/Next of Kins fund from all African countries via Nigerian reserve account with Bank of Africa,but we can not transfer this funds direct to your nominated bank account,because we are having a little problem with the United states of american watchdog security so our method of payment is by Western Union transfer which will be more faster to you in collectiong your fund with out much story.We hereby write to inform you that we have already sent first batch of US$5,500 by the Western Union in your name ready for pick up.


Sender Information:
1. SENDER'S NAME: ALIHOU HOUNSA
2. SENDER'S COUNTRY:BENIN REPUBLIC
4. AMOUNT = US$5,500
5. MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER(M.T.C.N):073-262-7772
6. Test Question: Who Is Able. Answer: God.

We the Bank of Africa Benin Republic,through Mr. Jimoh Omoba via his e-mail: westernunion.customercares@gmail.com the officer in charge of the western union transfer dept,so that you will pay for the safe keeping Location re-activation fee of $295 that your first batch fund transferred will be activated for you to make pick up,before you will go us order for further daily payment. Please you can track this MTCN number which my office provides to you for tracking this transaction on western union transfer website for confirmation.

Note: This first batch transfer is not activated yet. So contact us for activation.
Well you will pay for your safe keeping Location re-activation fee of $295 through western union or money gram with the name which will be providing to you through this office once we hear your answer back for you to agree paying the fee now as our receiving western union name will be forward to you.


Thanks and God Bless


Mr. Edward Kong
western union money transfer officer in charge in Benin
dredwardkong@ymail.com

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