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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 Office <financeministry08@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.wstrnun5@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2022 06:39:21 +0100
Subject: Attn: Sir, Pick Your Payments,


Welcome to Western Union®
Western Union Money Transfer
Website: www.westernunion.com
Date: 11/04/2022.
*Send Money Worldwide*
Attn: Sir,

Reference to payment-order from United Nations Funds Payment Office, Ecowas
zone, our office was mandated to release your payments valued $1,600,000:00
USD to your name as compensation from the agency due to your inability to
receive the total funds from bank to bank wire transfer. After a series of
verification at this office, we have finally approved and just sent the
first US$5,000 to you right now.

Track it to confirm, enter the website:
*https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer
<https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer>* Down
here are the payment information except Security Question and Answer.

Western Union (MTCN):.......... 3614229767
Sender's first Name:.............. SALFO
Sender's last Name:.............. ZANGO
Amount sent: ..................... $5,000 USD

The total funds on your name here is $1,600,000.00. Quickly get back to us
to enable us to give you the Text Question and Answers so that you can
pick-up the available funds immediately in your country. Your western
union payment has been programmed ($10,000) daily of $5,000 in 2 parts to
your name.

Please reply now and reconfirm your name, address and direct phone numbers
to communicate with you.

If you prefer bank to bank transfer, then confirm your bank details for
direct remittance of your approved fund $1,600,000:00 to your bank account.

Waiting on your urgent response today.

Sincerely,

Mr. Collins Favour (Payment Director)
Foreign Operations Manager.
Western Union Regional Office
Direct Tel: +234 812 797 0959

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