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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: from money gram office Benin <lorenzo.mastracci@alice.it>
Reply-To: moneygramoffice@seznam.cz
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2017 12:05:01 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Welcome to Money Gram Money Transfer

Welcome to Money Gram Money Transfer Send Money Worldwide
office Department Of Money Gram Cotonou Benin Republic
ADDRESS: 1500 Akpakpa Avenue, Cotonou; Benin
Visit Us Via Website: www.moneygram.com
Greetings From Money Gram


Money Gram Money Transfer

The Money Gram Transfer Service Cotonou Benin
Headquarters wishes to inform you that our government has paid part of the fees
needed for the final release of your funds which is worth $4.500,000.00 USD to
you this month through our Money Gram Office here in United States. For your
information the maximum amount you will be receiving from tomorrow is $4,500
USD till your total funds of $4.500,000.00 USD is completely transferred to
you.

We have been struggling to send you the first payment of $4,500 USD today
through our payment system here before we found out that your payment file
needed to be renewed from the World Bank central system. Below is your first
payment of $4,500 USD that is sent in your name this morning but you will not
be able to pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$168.00 required to
renew and reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank Central
System here in United States.

Below is your first payment for $4,500 usd sent today. Click on the link below
to track your $4,500 payment status now. It is a compulsory step to take if you
really want to gain access to your payment. You can also copy and paste the
link on your web browser and with to download

Track View Website link: https://secure.moneygram.com/trackMoney Transfer
Control Number (REFERENCE) # 62272243
Sender Last Name : Shabangu

Click on check status to
view that your first payment is available for pick up by you. Remember it is
compulsory to track it first. So if you want to track the money to confirm if
the funds is transferred visit our website below:

https://secure.moneygram.com/track
enter the (REFERENCE) number # 62272243 Enter senders last name. Shabangu and
click tracking and it will show you that your funds is available for you to
pick up.
Your urgent response is highly needed in sending the $168.00usd to enable us
proceed to reconfirm your payment file from the world Bank central System. Send
the $168 directly with the name as outlined below via our money gram outlet to
enable us pick it from our department here and reconfirm your payment file
approval from the world Bank central System and commence your daily payment
immediately Please you were advice to send the fee via our Money Gram Cashier
Name.

Send the fee via Money Gram Only.
Receiver’s Name: Ejiofor wisdom odoh
Address: Cotonou Benin
Amount: $168usd

NOTE: You will not be able to pickup the $4,500 USD unless you send the fee of
US$168 required to renew and reconfirm your payment file to us through the
World Bank Central System in United State. This payment you are receiving is
coming directly from World Bank assistance program on poverty alleviation, the
Money Gram headquarters has agreed to start sending you the payment of $4,500
usd daily as soon as you meet up with the $168 which is for the reconfirmation
of your payment file from the world Bank central System. However, failure to
adhere to the above instruction after 3days put you at a high risk of
cancellation of your payment and have it return back to government.

Yours respectfully,
Mr.Chris Shabangu
From Money Gram Office

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