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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: Mr Mike Mrak <"555."@eagle.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: " Mr Mike Mrak" <westernunionandmoneygram@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:46:52 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Please!!!,

Attention Please!!!,

We Want To Inform You Earlier Before You Will Lose Your Fund, After
Our Meeting Held With The Board Of Directors Of Western Union And
Money gram, Federal Ministry Of Finance, They Stated That You Only
Have 48 hours Given To Receive Your First Payment Of $5,000 USD From
The Total (Funds) Of $3.7 Million Since You Are Finding It Difficult
To Make This Payment We Have Decided That You Are To Go Ahead And Pay
Amount $50usd Since You Are Not Able To Come Up With The Required Sum,
Time Is Of The Essence Here.

Therefore Go Straight Now And Pay Amount {$50usd} To Enable Us
Release Your Payment That Is Place On Hold By The Management And Be
Informed That You Will Have To Pay The Balance Sum Of Your Fees Upon
Cashing Up Of Your First 5,000:00 USD, Also I Am Using This Medium To
Inform You That Failure To Pay The Sum Will Leave Us With No Option
But To Cancel Your Transfer And Can Never Cash Up The Balance Sum.

For Your Information Do Not Expect The Release Of Your Payment
Without Sending The Money Required Fee And Remember That You Are Given
Only 48hours To Comply Or Your Transfer Will Be Cancel Immediately
Since You Are Told To Send Only Amount Of $50usd You Have In Order To
Help You and you will receive your first payment $5000usd with 1hour
you send the $50usd today. Below Is Our Account Officer Name Which You
Will Use To Send The Fee through money gram or western union To Enable
Us Release Your First Payment Immediately.

Below Is The Western Union Or Money Gram Payment Information

Receiver's Name:........ Anthony Anaetu
Country:::::::: Benin Republic
City::::::: Cotonou
Amount::::: $50usd
Test Question:::: Honest
Test Answer:: Trust
Sender's Name::::??
Money Transfer Control Number:::??

Send Us the Mtcn Number Immediately You Send the Money And
Immediately We Confirm The Transfer Fee We Will Release Your First
Payment $5000 Today within one hour And Not Tomorrow

Mr Mike Mrak
My Private Email; westernunionandmoneygram@gmail.com
tel-phone +22999080288
General Operation Manager.
Head Office Money Gram and Western Union Department

Anti-fraud resources: