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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "MR. MICHAEL SMITH MENSAH." <smithmensah11@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Reply-To: smithmensah1@yahoo.ca
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:31:46 +0100
Subject: FROM: MANAGER

FROM: MANAGER.


ATTN: SIR.

I GOT YOURCONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, HONEST AND A TRUSTWORTH nPERSON TO ENTRUST THIS HUGE TRANSFER PROJECT WITH. MY NAME IS MR. MICHAEL SMITH MENSAH. I AM THE MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKGHANA, FIRST LIGHT BRANCH. I AM A GHANAIAN MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS.

IAM WRITING TO SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OFUS$3,550.000.00.THIS FUND IS THE EXCESS OF WHAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AMTHE MANGER MADE AS PROFIT DURING THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE ALREADYSUBMITTED AN APPROVED END OF THE YEAR REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2004 TO MYHEAD OFFICE HERE IN ACCRA AND THEY WILL NEVER KNOW OF THIS EXCESS. IHAVE SINCE THEN, PLACED THIS AMOUNT OF US$3,550.000.00 ON A SUSPENCEACCOUNT WITHOUT A BENEFICIARY.

AS AN OFFICER OF THE BANK, I CANNOT BEDIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY THUS I AM IMPELLED TO REQUES T FORYOUR ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. I INTENDTO PART 30% OF THIS FUND TO YOU WHILE 70% SHALL BE FOR ME. I DO NEED TOSTRESS THAT THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED IN THIS. IT'S GOINGTO BE A BANK-TO-BANK TRANSFER. ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AS THEORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND.

IF YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER, I WILLAPPRECIATE YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE. PLEASE
RESPONSE TO THIS E-MAILADDRESS: smithmensah1@yahoo.ca

WITH REGARDS,

MR. MICHAEL SMITH MENSAH.


Anti-fraud resources: