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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: <info@lee.com>
Reply-To: weststarcreditunion@accountant.com
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2018 23:35:45 -0800
Subject: Attention Honorable Beneficiary


Attention Honorable Beneficiary

Payment Release Instruction From WestStar Credit Union in Las Vegas.

Acting on our capacity as the international correspondent bank to the International Monetary Fund Organization, this is to officially notify you that we have received a confirmation advice from the International Monetary Funds External Auditors Committee, World Bank, United Nations Organization and the WSCU respectively via International Payment Voucher Number: IMF/FRBWDC/BOA-93WB82UN567-G requesting our bank to direct the WSCU BANK USA L.V, a subsidiary of the west star Credit Union Bank of America to disburse your due wining/inheritance and contract payment valued at Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US10.5M) in your favor via their branch in las vegas.

In consideration of the above, you have been issued with this Exclusive Reference Identification Number (IMF/WSCU-LV/9USXX10751/09), Vide Transaction No.: WHA/EUR/202 and Transfer Allocation No.: WSCU/X44/701LN/LV/US, Password: 2236, Pin Code: 78569, Certificate of Merit No: 104, Release Code No: 0876; Immediate WSCU Telex Confirmation No: -222568; Secret Code: XXTN014. Having received these vital payment numbers, you are instantly qualified to receive and confirm your payment within the next 72hrs. as necessary clearance has been granted from the International Monetary Funds External Auditors to release the funds to you with immediate effect.

In view of this directive received from the International Monetary Funds (IMF), we have on our own part verified your payment file as directed to us, and your name is next on the list of outstanding fund beneficiaries to receive their payment at this final quarter of year ending 2017. With that being done, you are required to urgently contact the WSCU USA L.V. in LAS VEGAS through their International Funds Release Supervisor:

Contact Person: Mr. Smith White.(Head, Funds Release Supervisor)
Tel: (702) 536-5060
Email: weststarcreditunion@accountant.com

And reconfirm your international payment voucher number and your reference identification number respectively before the office with a view to the final remittance approval and subsequent crediting of your bank account to the tune of funds as stated herein. We wish to inform you of the need for you to also re-confirm the following information before the WSCU BANK USA L.V. in las vegas to enable the officer in-charge to proceed with the preliminary arrangements that will enhance the immediate release of your funds. Owing to security reasons, be clearly informed that the bank will not respond to any phone calls/general inquiries placed to our bank with regards to the remittance of your funds by beneficiaries as we are barred from doing so, you are therefore advised to communicate only with the accredited officer for further remittance advice.

1) Full Name:
2) Full Address;
3) Your contact telephone and fax number;
4) Your Age and Profession;
5) Copy of any valid form of your Identification;
6) Your Bank name;
7) Your Bank Address;
8) Account name and Number;
9) ABA/Routing Number;
10) Swift or Sort Code/IBAN;

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
TREAT AS URGENT.
Agent Brown
WestStar Credit Union 110 E Harmon Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89109

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