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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 Payment Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western_union000143@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 18:20:57 -0000
Subject: WESTERN UNION CLAIM

From:Ms. Carman L. Lapointe {Under-Secretary-General}
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division.
In conjunction with Western Union Innovative Global Payment Exercise
 
My name is Ms. Carman L. Lapointe from the United Nations. It is a distinct pleasure to write you and as you are well aware
that many foreigners have invested thousands of United States Dollars into Nigeria transactions in Hopeless Dreams to have
none of them become a reality.
 
Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban Ki-Moon, We have agreed with the Nigeria Government that US$200,000.00
(Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) would be paid to you through the Western Union Money Transfer Via special
preference scheme (SPS) as first installment.
 
This is to enable you have enough funds to offset all necessary obligations such as Tax Clearance or other releated Bank
charges before you will receive balance of your unclaimed inheritance of US$4.8M (Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand United
 
States Dollars Only).
 
The Management of the Western Union has today designated your first transaction of $3,500 USD being our daily outward payment limit to be paid to you in batch until you receive the total approved amount.Below are the pertinent information for your kind perusal.[PLEASE KEEP YOUR MTCN STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL FOR SECURITY REASONS]
 
Sender's first name:----------HELEN
Sender's last name:---------- HOWARD
M.T.C.N---------------------- 9340747937
 
For more details,kindly check your transaction online through the below western union online tracking page for your perusal:
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?
 
Having said that,all what is required of you now to enable you cash your first transaction of $3,500 right now is just $265 [USD] for the necessary Notarization / re-registration of IDENTIFICATION to enable you as the authorized receipient pick up the programmed daily limit of $3,500 in your name through any Western Union Money Transfer agent nearest to you.
 
Lastly,you are required to reconfirm your information to me such as your full name, address and telephone number so that I will proceed with your first transactions and subsequent transaction details will be availed to you within next 24 hrs. get back via ( investigationoffice@pisem.net )
 
Upon receipt of your response, I shall provide you with our cashier's information for further proceedings.
 
Thank you.
 
Sincerely,
Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
{Under-Secretary-General}
United Nations

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