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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "ALEXANDER NANA" <alexnana3000@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 16:41:31 -0800
Subject: I Need Your Urgent Reply.

Attn.
How are you together with your family? I hope that you are all fine, I want to plead for your understanding and forgiveness if you find this mail embarassing since we have not met before, though i found your contact in the Accra Chamber of Commerce Directry here in Ghana.
In brief introduction, My name is Alexander Nana, I am the son of Late Dr. Humphrey Nana, the former minister of mines and agriculture, my late father during his tenure as the minister had deposited the sum of US$ 6.1million with a reputable Bank here in Ghana though he deposited this fund with the Bank through his Attorney, Barrister Royson Williams of roy_wills@freeghana.com, he did this because he do not want to be linked with this fund or hence the Government will confiscate it.
Few months ago, His attorney invited me and my mother to his office where he revealed to us that my late father had deposited the fund with the bank, he said that he waited all this years to tell us this since that was my late Fathers wish, he said my father instructed him to hand over the documents of the fund to me on my 25th birthday and that was his reason for not telling us all those years.
My reason for contacting you now is based on the fact that my mother is instisting that i should look for a foreigner who will help us in transfering and investing the fund abroad since we can not meet up with the demands of the Bank coupled with the economic instability in Africa, you will be entitled to 15% of the fund for your assistance in seeing to the successful transfer of the fund through your account and your help in assisting me to invest in a profitable business in your country.
I will be looking forward to your urgent reply.
Faithfuly,
Alexander Nana


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