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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: "James Maduike" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <union_western@terra.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 06:51:01 +0800
Subject: RE: Your Outstanding Payment

Attention: Your Outstanding Payment.

I contacted you because I sent you the first transfer of $6500 from your winning inheritance funds total amount of $250.000.00 USD. Therefore you need to contact Western Union agent Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, to give you the transfer payment information and Western Union MTCN immediately..

Western Union Agent: Mrs. Elizabeth Williams
Contact Email: union_western@terra.com

Please try to contact her immediately so that she furnish you with the WU MTCN information, remember to indicate the registration Code Number: EB-2537 to her, when contacting, she will be sending you $6,500.00 ( Six thousand Dollars ) on a daily basis until the amount of $250.000.00 USD is complete transfer to you.

Do get in touch with me once you have receive the transfer completely thank you.

Sincerely,
James Maduike,
Director of Foreign Affairs.

Anti-fraud resources: