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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: Ashley Benson <ratafia.rapa@alice.it>
Reply-To: w_unioncenter@qatar.io
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 20:16:45 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: your mtcn 0741370142

Attn dear

Finally $5000 was sent to you today out of your total $1.5 million here is the
mtcn 0741370142 senders name Jason Callahan but you will not pick it up

until you pay $65 usd for the activation of your payment file,your
payment file have to be Activated here to enable you pick it up it will cost
you $65usd this instruction was given to us by FMF and united nation to send
your compensation price

you will receiving $5000 per day till total fund is send to you complete
reconfirm you full information to enable us proceed with another
payment contact western union director: Ashley Ben
E-mail: w_unioncenter@qatar.io
Tell phone +229 682-255-28
regard
Mrs Linda Cole

Anti-fraud resources: