joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mr. Richard Quest" <file.office70@gmail.com>
Reply-To: w_moneytransfer11@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:28:43 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dear Valued Customer.




Western Union
Head Office
100 Central Road,Cotonou City 23452,Benin.
TEL: (229) 98 944 811
Dear Valued Customer.

Welcome to Western Union Online Service where your entire money transfer is made easy. You should expect a fast, convenient friendly way to transfer money internationally. I am Mr.Richard Quest Transaction Director. I will guide you through the transfer procedures of your Compesation and be rest assured of a friendly transaction process. We are affiliated to the Ecowas Lottery Board . We are pleased to be at your service. Western Union a long established company and believes in a quality service.

Our telephones are permanently manned 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, thus ensuring instant response to any Money Transfer problems you may encounter, any time day or night, with no out of hours surcharges whatsoever. We can cover Money Transfer within minutes of your call. The company has gone from strength to strength. Be notified that your Funds was forwarded to our office for onward Transfer to you. For this purpose and to be certain that you are the designated winner, you are to furnish us with the following details:

1. Receiver's Full Name:
2. Receiver's Address:
3. Receiver's Country:
4. Receiver's Telephone Number:
5. Receiver's Occupation:

Incase you still have doubts arising from the angle of how you got selected, note that the selection processes were carried out through an electronic email ballot system Ecowas aim was to select winners through the internet which will be easier way to select winners all around the universe due to the fact that only you alone have access to your email. You have emerged a winner as far as you are the original proprietor to the email account which you have received the winning notification letter as distributed by Michelle I. Centeno the lottery manager of this great promotion.

The process is vital and urgent following the directives we received from Ecowas Lottery Board that all winners prize money should be Transferred to them on or before two weeks from today. As soon as we receive the above details, your Funds will be ready for Transfer.

Promptness, dependability, professionalism, and a proving know-how are the kinds of traits that make teaming up with Western Union Online Service a rewarding experience, We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours in service,
Mr. Richard Quest
Transaction Director
Western Union 24HOURS ONLINE.
[ w_moneytransfer11@yahoo.fr ]

Anti-fraud resources: