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: INFO_SERVICE <bfederalreserve3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wunion006@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2022 19:29:28 -0700
Subject: Important Notification

Dear Costumer:

The Western Union Money Transfer Service Cotonou, Benin Republic
headquarters wishes to inform you that our government has paid part of
the fees needed for the final release of your funds $2.500,000.00 USD
to you this month through our Western Union Office here in Benin
Republic to avoid you sending much money to African 419 again. And for
your information the maximum amount you will be receiving started from
today is $5000 USD till your total funds of $2.500,000.00 USD is
complete transferred to you and we have been strongly to send you the
first payment of $5000USD today through our payment system here
before we find out that your payment file need to renew from world
Bank central system. And we listed bellow for your first payment of
$5000usd been sent in your name today morning but you will not
pickupthe money unless you send the fee of US$175 require to renew and
reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank Central
System here in Cotonou, Republic Benin.

Bellow is your first payment for $5000usd sent today.

Money Transfer Control Number: 373 987 4536
Sender’s First Name: ERIC
Sender’s Last Name: PETERS
Text Question: HONEST
Answer: TRUST
Amount: USD $5000.00
https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer

So if you want to track the money and confirm if the funds is
transferred enter our website www.westernunion.com then click tracking
and enter the mtcn number…3739874536 enter senders first name…
ERIC.... Enter senders last name..PETERS and click tracking and it
will show you that your funds is available for you to pick it up.

final urgent in sending us the $175 usd to enable us proceed on
reconfirm your payment file from the world Bank central SYESTEM. Send
the fee directly with the name as outline below use it to send the
money via western union to enable us pick it from our department here
and reconfirm your payment file approval from the world Bank central
and commerce your daily payment immediately. we also repeat again, you
will not pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$175 require to
renew and reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank
Central System in Benin Republic. So if you would prefer to start
receiving your payment first thing tomorrow in the morning hurry up
and send the renew and reconfirmation of your payment file fees $175
usd with bellow information via western union money transfer service.

Reciever Name: Godwin Jhnson
Country: Benin Republic,
City: Cotonou
Text Question: Very Urgent?
Answer: today.
Amount: $175 usd
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) is needed and sender's name

Finally Notice: This payment you are receiving is coming directly from
World Bank assistance programmable 2022 promo, so its risk free and we
the western union headquarters has agree to start sending you the
payment immediately you meet up with our demand in this latter. But
after 2days you did not reply stand the risk of cancel your payment
and have it will return back to government.

Yours respectfully,
ERIC PETERS
DIRECTOR Western Union Payments.
+22998118804

Anti-fraud resources: