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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: "Mrs. Michelle Smith (ESQ)." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wdeptoffice@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:39:01 +0100
Subject: YOUR FILE NO.KGU/8020182590

Attention:Beneficiary,
 
I'm writing to inform you that Ministry of Finance Benin approve and instructed me to deposit your unclaimed fund worth of $1.5m with WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER cash payment, your file number is # KGU/8020182590, at the owner of this email address only. all the arrangement has been concluded that you will receive your fund through western union money transfer and the amount you will be receiving is $5,000.00us dollars twice daily till you receive the total fund completely and the only fees you are require to pay is their transfer fee of $195us dollars only.
 
Contact Western Union Office with the information below;
Location Address; Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell Street CO/B/REP,
Contact Person: Mr. John Gomez.
Telephone Number: +229 6856 6613
Email Address: (wdeptoffice@yahoo.com.hk)
 
They will get your file renew before sending the MTCN NUMBER of your each payment to you to ensure willingness to receive your fund. Western union money transfer Manager Mr. John Gomez will be sending the Mtcn daily to you until you receive the $1.5million us dollars and Remember you have to pay the required western union transfer fees of $195us dollars in every each payment you received until you withdraw the payment completed.
 
Now fill the information bellow and forward it to Mr. John Gomez email address (wdeptoffice@yahoo.com.hk) and he will direct you where to send their transfer fees of $195us dollars, so make sure that your file information below correctly.
 
Fill below info for the renewing of your file.
(1) FULL NAME .................
(2) ADDRESS ....................
(3) COUNTRY ...................
(4) PRIVATE TEL ................
(5) PRIVATE FAX ...............
(6) YOUR FILE NO.... KGU/8020182590
(7) YOUR MARITAL STATUS/AGE..........
(8) YOUR OCCUPATION................
 
BEST REGARDS,
MRS. MICHELLE SMITH.

Anti-fraud resources: