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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: "Michael Jess." <whitevictoria91@ymail.com>
Reply-To: thewayoflifeis1@rediffmail.com
Date: Tue, 08 May 2012 00:30:53 +0300
Subject: My name is Michael Jess.




FROM: Mr. Michael Jess
Manager International Commercial Bank.
Kaneshie Branch, Accra-Ghana.
West Africa.



Attn: Sir/Madam,



My name is Michael Jess. I am the regional manager of the
international commercial bank of Ghana. I am 44 years of age, married
with 3 lovely kids. I got your information through the Internet,hope
and wish that we can work together. I have successfully and carefully
packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us. As the
regional manager of the international commercial bank (ICBGH). It is
my duty and responsibility to send in, a financial report to the head
office of my bank here in Accra (Ghana) at the end of each fiscal
year. In the course of report and submission of the end of the year
(2011) financial activities of my branch to the head office. I
discovered that my branch in which I am the head and the manager made
an outstanding profit of US$5.5m (five million,five hundred thousand
dollar only) which is unaccounted and undeclared and of which the head
office is not and will never be aware of, I have since and accordingly
placed the funds (US$5.5m) in a suspense account without any
beneficiary.


As the manager and an employee of the bank, I cannot be directly
involved and connected with the money, so this is my good reason of
contacting you for us to work together so you can assist in receiving
this money/funds into your bank account for us to share. For your
involvement and participation in the scheme, you shall receive 30% of
the total money after conclusion. The transaction (scheme) is 100%
risk free and the money will be transferred to your designated account
through bank-to-bank transfer via telegraphic wire transfer.



All that you will be required to do is to stand and make claim as the
original and bonafide depositor of the funds with the bank
(my branch) so that my head office will give approval for the transfer
of the funds to your designated account. Note that as the manager of
my branch of the bank, that all the requisite and necessary
arrangements have been expertly put in place to facilitate your
successful claim of the money and the eventual transfer of the money.
Upon your reply of this mail and your indication of interest in the
transaction, I shall oblige you further details. Please do get back to
me via my email : thewayoflifeis1@rediffmail.com



Awaiting your prompt response on my email.

Sincerely yours,
Michael Jess.
thewayoflifeis1@rediffmail.com


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