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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: "Susan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mensahsusa@blumail.org>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:27:57 -0700
Subject: Central Bank of Nigeria.

Dear Fund Beneficiary,
I am Miss Susan Mensah Citizen of Ghana, a Computer Analyst with Central Bank of Nigeria. I am 28 years old,I got your e-mail and your name when i was searching for a trust Worthy. I am writing you this email from my heart, just started work with Central Bank of Nigeria. (C.B.N.) I came across some payment file here which was marked X and release Hard Disk painted RED, I took my time to study it and found out that i can transfer the fund.
 
The most annoying thing is that the directors and top officials of this bank cannot tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you; instead they let you spend money unnecessarily.
I swear with my life that, I can release this fund to you if you can certify me of my security and how I can leave Nigeria if I do this for you, I cannot go back to Ghana as they have all my information in Ghana, and if I don't go away from country after I made the transfer to your bank account, I will be seriously in trouble and my life will be in danger.
The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special HARD DISK, we call it HD120 GIG. I will buy two of it, recopy the information, destroy the previous one, and punch the computer to reflect in your bank account within 24 banking hours. I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file, after which I will go away from here Nigeria to meet with you in your country if you are interested. But you must assure me the absolute confidentiality of this deal before I can do any further.
Do get in touch with me immediately.
My E-mail: mensahsus@hotmail.com
For phone conversation, please call me on +234-7094343502.
I need your Full Names:
Current Home Address:
Current Telephone Numbers for easy communication:
Active Bank Details where you want the fund to be transferred into:
Regards,
Miss Susan Mensah
Computer Analyst
Central Bank of Nigeria

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