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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: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE?= <officfile010912@outlook.com>
Reply-To: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union=AE?= <westernun0889@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2017 06:54:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Go and pick up your two payments immediately after $69



Attention: Email ID Owner,

The management of western union money transfer, wishes you best in life, the western union have added effort to transfer your funds which was deposited with us by international monetary fund head due to your e-mail address was found on scam victim list.
 
The $2.500, 000usd stands as compensation to you; we have build better service in beginning of this year in order to give you best of our service. After we received your information, we instantly transfer the two first payments of $5,000 which is total of $10,000:00 in your name.
 
Now your payment has been sent out like I promised you but there is one thing holding your payment right now which we must handle immediately to enable you pick up your payment today as well.
 
The first $5,000 we sent out needs clearance certificate before you will start receiving it. The payments is there right now but the clearance certificate is highly needed because the western union system will not find the payment if it is not clearance.
 
They demanded $69.00 for the clearance certificate. Please you must try to send it today okay. Information for the $10,000.00 that was send though Western Union is here by given thus,
 
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):8402821523
MTCN #------- 6402821510
Sender's First Name----Basil
Sender's Last Name----Udeh
City-----Cotonou
Country---Benin Republic
Text question--In God
Text answer--We Trust
Amount--$5000.00
 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Second Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):5318670875
MTCN #------8398670833
Sender's First Name--Basil
Sender's Last Name--Udeh
City-----Cotonou
Country---Benin Republic
Text question---In God
Text answer----We Trust
Amount----$5000.00

Please you must try to send it today or tomorrow okay. Here is the information:
Receiver's Name: Basil Udeh

Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Question: In God
Answer: We Trust
Amount: $69.00


I will be waiting for your update as soon as possible.
Best Regards,
Mr.Johnson Ikeli
Phone: +229-94122811
Western Union Money Transfer

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