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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:44:55 +0200
Subject: MONET SENT


Western Union=C2=AE=0AWelcome to Western Union=0ASend Money Worldwide=0AWes=
tern Union=C2=AE Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide=0AAttention:=
,=0AWe draw your attention to the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in respect o=
f the sum of US$2.5Million Dollars (two million five hundred thousand unite=
d states dollars) directed in cash and accredited to file KTU/9023118308 at=
the owner of this email account.=0AThis information was made available to =
us a while ago by the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND directed that your compen=
sation be transferred to you through your allocated security code which the=
y choose to send it to you through your email account instead of your name =
for security reason.=0ABut at the moment, we are unable to complete a trans=
fer directed at your email address, so we require more information in order=
to complete this transfer to you.=0AFULL NAME:=0AFULL CONTACT ADDRESS:=0AM=
OBILE PHONE NUMBER:=0ATo ensure that we resolve this problem now, endeavor =
to email us immediately via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Depa=
rtment: ( WesternUnion24@24.com ). Be informed=0Athat as soon as this infor=
mation is received,and you have complied with the requirements of payment o=
f the western union charges $275USD, we will transfer your total fund to yo=
ur nominated bank account or directly from the Western Union money Transfer=
system.=0AWe are mindful of the activities of fraudsters but you are advis=
ed to maintain a strict and confidential relationship with us and guard all=
information made available to you in the cause of this transfer with all d=
iligence to avoid unnecessary interference in our operations=0Ato ensure th=
at your total fund is transferred to you successfully as soon as possible.=
=0ADo contact us through our website, www.westernunion.co.uk but be informe=
d also that you will be responsible for any payment that is needed for the =
transfer of your fund into your nominated bank account or at the counter di=
rectly from the Western Union money Transferring Bank.=0AThis information i=
s from THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, UNITED KINGDOM HEAD =
OFFICE .=0ASincerely,=0AMr. James Mark.=0Awww.westernunion.co.uk=0A(western=
-union@24.com) . Western Union=C2=AE Welcome to=0AWestern Union=0APhone:+22=
9-9389-2879 Send Money Worldwide

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