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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: From United Nations <frankhillary11@gmail.com>
Reply-To: western.unionfiile50@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:39:13 +0100
Subject: UNITED NATIONS PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER PAY-OUT CENTER
Email; western.unionfiile50@yahoo.com.hk

Dear Western Union Beneficiary,

UNITED NATIONS PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.

We wish to inform you that the United Nations (UN) has authorized us to
remit to you a total amount of $850,000.00 USD (Eight Hundred and Fifty
Thousand United States Dollars). This amount is to be paid to you because
of the fact that you were selected as a beneficiary in the Last E-mail
ballot promotion Held in Benin,by the United Nations. This promotion is
inline with the Social responsibility of the United Nations Organization,
which is held once Every year to change the living status of five (5) lives
around the Globe. The United Nations reached out to Craig's list as means
of expanding it's program to all Craig's list users and Craig's list
supplied over 120,000 Million of it's subscribers from over 50 cities world
wide. This year you have been chosen along side Four (4) other lucky people
randomly. On behalf of the United Nations Organization and Western Union,
we wish to congratulate you formally.

Your Fund was paid out to us by the United Nations, and they have
successfully succeeded in depositing your whole funds with us Here at
Western Union Benin. They have now ordered us to take full responsibility
in the transfer process of your funds and thus commence the immediate
remittance of your funds to you. Be duly informed that because Of our
Western Union transfer policy, your funds will be paid to you via any of
our accredited banks in one lump sum to your nominated bank account or
through Western Union Daily Transfer limit of $7,600.00 USD. This means
that you will Continuously receive a daily amount of $7,600.00 USD from us,
and this amount Can be collected from any of our numerous Western Union
outlets in your current location.

To begin receiving your daily payment as stated above, we need you to
provide us with; Your Full Name, Address, and Phone Number. Upon receipt of
the Requested details, your first transaction will be activated and we
shall then Proceed to provide you with the Money Transfer Control Number
(MTCN) for the First installment and we will continue to email you others
after 24 hours of Receiving each payment; (2) or the total amount
$850,000.00 USD (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars)
can be Transferred in one lump sum to your nominated bank account,

For more information on your payment status;
E-mail Rev.John Hillary. (western.unionfiile50@yahoo.com.hk)
OR call our 24 hours Help line @ +229-6732-5317, for any inquiries on the
above message.

Yours truly,
Barrister Peter Williams
FROM: Western Union Benin.
WESTERN UNION Over 380,000 Outlets Worldwide.

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