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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 Money Transfer <hombbssshhh@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Western Union Money Transfer <cynthiadavidson_union@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 11:27:26 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION..VERY IMPORTANT


Western UnionMoney Transfer. (WWW)
Address: PO Box 358 City: Trincity  
Country. Trinidad
Dear Customer,
 
 
The Western UnionMoney Transfer this morning has been instructed to
Transfer a total sum of $ 1,500,000 USD (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars only)
Directed in cash Credited to Our account ending in: WUMTxxxxxx5467 by the Financial Service Authority   . (FSA) This agreement made ​​WAS Due to the Relentless Efforts Have you made ​​to receive your Fund from Overseas, the FSA in Conjunction with the International Monetary Fund HAS Agreed to screen and redeem your Payment to you.
 
They contacted us some couple of hours ago regarding your withheld compensation fund. Be informed that all matters relating to your funds transfer has been fully regularized as a final approval has been issued out in your favor and we therefore commence the transfer process of your fund which have been authenticated few minutes ago.
 
We advise you to immediately respond to this mail with the listed Data below and any attached copy of Identification, Once valid information is received, we would proceed and effect your Payment which will be sent in the sum of $ 3,500.00 (Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars) every 4Hours with different MTCN NUMBER.
 
(1) Recipient Name:
(2) Recipient City / State:
(3) Recipient Phone Number:
 
NOTE: We would not respond to any wrong information received in our database because, we will verify your details with your account provider to make sure you are the rightful owner before we make any authorized and legal Wire Transfer to your name.
 
NOTE: There would be an ITCR (INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER CHARGES RATE) fee of $ 165.00 to update your account from our Database.
 
RESPONSE SHOULD BE MADE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IT WILL BE TOO LATE
 
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cynthia Davidson
Western UnionTeam

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