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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: "Western Union Benin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officebeninrepwesternunion@yahoo.in>
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 22:12:26 +0530
Subject: THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Payment Director West Africa zonal office
Western Union Mney Transfer World Wide
Phone:+229-9938-6874
Email:officebeninrepwesternunion@yahoo.in

WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:

This is to bring this to you notice that the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) has deposited with the western union head office Benin republic the sum of $4,500,000.00 united state dollars of your inheritance fund and instructed me MR WILFRED WHITE to commence your transfer within 48hrs, this fund was deposited with our office since April 10th 2014 and you haven't contacted us since then.

Below is the information of your first payments $5000 Dollars sent to you today. But unfortunately, the managing Director of this department called us this morning and reported that you have not paid the required fee 18,500.00 Indian Rupees which you are supposed to pay earlier for the purchasing and updating of your transfer files but we have already sent out the payment out but not yet been putting on your name as the receiver. You will be receiving $5000 daily until your total amount of funds $4,500,000.00 united state dollars0 is fully paid to you.

Since you are finding it difficult to get the 18,500.00 Indian Rupees for the renewal of your payment file, we have decided that you are to go ahead and pay whatever you have out of the total fee 18,500.00 Indian Rupees required. But mind you, no amount below 11,000.00 Indian Rupees will be accepted so we expect you to pay whatever amount from 11,000.00 Indian Rupees and above. You are to pay whatever you have and we will activate your mtcn number and direct the transfer to your name as the receiver.

Note that Indian bank account details will be given to you where you can deposit the fees into through our corresponding office in India.

Please any amount you send let us know but remember, any amount below will not be accepted. Send us the payment slip immediately after you deposited it.
HERE IS THE MONEY DETAILS MADE TO YOU!!!
MTCN: 3090365458
Sender’s First Name: Augustine
Sender’s Last Name: Emeka
Test Question: Color
Answer: Blue
Amount: $5000.00

Don’t expose this numbers to anybody else.
Note that the money detail given to you does not bear your name as the receiver yet. As soon as we receive the fee from you, we will immediately activate your mtcn# and put your name as the receiver. Please take note; you need to go along with your passport ID or Drivers license when you need to pick up the transfer okay. We look forward hearing from you.

Phone:+229-9938-6874
Email:officebeninrepwesternunion@yahoo.in
REGARDS,
MR WILFRED WHITE
WESTERN UNION BENIN -TRANSFER AGENT

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