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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 International Limited®"
<westernunion.informationcenter@list.ru>
Reply-To: <westernunion.office2015@list.ru>
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2015 00:25:42 -0600
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE!!!

Attention E-mail Address Owner,
 
Western Union International Limited is a founding member of the Scam Awareness Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Americans and the rest of the world about scams and helping them to avoid becoming victims of fraud. This program was launched by The Federal Bureau of Investigation and supported By The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC).
 
It has come to the world wide notice that most people have been rendered homeless by online scammers such as dating, transfer and lottery award. Sequel to this, the first edition of the 2015/2016 meeting was held today with Federal Bureau of Investigation. The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) are compensating all the scam victims and your name and email address was found in the scam victims list. This Western Union office has been mandated by the IMFC to transfer your compensation to you via Western Union Money Transfer.
 
However, we have concluded to effect your payment through Western Union Money Transfer, $5,000 twice per day until your total sum of $500,000.00 is completely transferred to you. We have made your first payment this morning but your payment file needs to be activated before you will pick up the payment today and it will cost you $110 only to activate your payment file.
 
THIS IS YOUR FIRST PAYMENT INFORMATION:
 
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): # 8595603382
SENDERS NAME: HENRY MOORE
SENDERS COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION: IN GOD
TEXT ANS: WE TRUST
AMOUNT: $5,000.00
 
Note that your payment files will be returned to the IMFC within 72 hours if we did not hear from you, this was the instruction given to us by the IMFC.
 
Thanks,
HENRY MOORE
Director Western Union Money Transfer
Head Office Benin Republic
CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE.

Anti-fraud resources: