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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: James Woods <mongrm96@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bank.of.amerriica@usa.com
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2014 18:15:51 +0100
Subject: Western Union: money transfer confirmed


Your money transfer's complete.

You will need to bring a government-issued photo ID and the tracking number
(MTCN) to pick up the 3,500.00 USD sent to you. They can pick it up at any
agent location in the expected payout location.

Thanks for using Western Union.

For a mobile transaction, this is your receipt. For all other transactions
this is a summary of your online receipt.

Your tracking number (MTCN) is : 6399405870.

Transaction Date: 10/02/2014 09:47:37 ET

Payment Information:

Card Type:

Visa®

Card Number:

XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-3297

Expiration Date:

XX/XXXXX

Transaction Type:

Purchase

Payout Information:

Today's Date:

2 October, 2014

Date available in receiver's country:

2 October, 2014

Delivery Method:

At any agent location in receiver's expected payout location.

Billing Summary:

Transfer Amount:

3,500.00 USD

Transfer Fees:

+ 327.00 USD

Promotion Discount:

- 0.00 USD

Total:

3,827.00 USD

Transfer Summary:

For all transfers, receiver may receive less due to foreign taxes. For
transfers to a bank account, receiver may also receive less due to fees
charged by the receiver's bank. For more Payment contact Payment Manager
James Woods,Email bank.of.amerriica@usa.com

Anti-fraud resources: