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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 DEPARTMENT <wsstee5@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT <woffice5@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2013 01:53:41 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.



FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
ADDRESS NO.72 AGATA ROAD , BENIN REPUBLIC
WESTERN UNION  HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE :+229 98286643
EMAIL:
woffice5@aol.com
 WEB www.westernunion.com
 
DEAR  CUSTOMER,
 
FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING HELD WITH THE FBI,UNITED NATION, BOAD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURS GIVEN TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 USD FROM THE TOTAL FUNDS WHICH IS (1.5M) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE FEES AND $75 WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM..
 
OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WARN YOU TO STOP FURTHER COMMUNICATION/DEALING WITH ANY BANKS THAT HAVE NO WEBSITE DUE TO FRAUD GOING ON WORLDWIDE. ANY BANKS THAT IS CONTACTING YOU WITHOUT WEBSITE IS FAKE.PLEASE VIEW OUR WEBSITE NOW :WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM.
 
THEREFORE GO STRAIGHT NOW AND PAY $75  TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT THAT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR FEES UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO CANCEL YOUR TRANSFER AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE SUM.
 
HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP UNTIL YOU SEND THE DEMAND WHICH IS $75, JUST TO PROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE.



1.SENDER NAME:... Nikolajs Barans
2.TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
3.TEST ANSWER:......WHITE.
4.AMOUNT ..........$5,000 USD
5. MTCN:#170-0431-164
 (Available for pick up by receiver)
 
FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED AND REMEMEBER THAT YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 48HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE CANCEL IMMEDIATELY SINCE YOU ARE TOLD TO SEND FEE IN ORDER TO HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE $75 TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.
 
1.RECEIVER NAME:: EKWEALOR CHRISTIAN
2.COUNTRY::::  BENIN REPUBLIC
3.CITY :;: PORTO NOVO
 4..TEST QUESTION:.....HOW LONG?
 5.TEST ANSWER:......TODAY.
 6.AMOUNT ...........$75 .
 7. YOUR ADDRESS ........
 
SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL RELEASE YOUR  FIRST PAYMENT $5000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW
 
REGARDS MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS +229 98286643  MR. ONYIBOR CHRISTOPHER EKENE FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC FOR YOUR PAYMENT
 
MR. ONYIBOR CHRISTOPHER EKENE
GENERAL OPERATION MANAGER.
VITAL FINANCE
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
TELEPHONE NUMBER:+229 98286643
Western UnionĀ®
Send Money Worldwide

Anti-fraud resources: