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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: <henryoroh1@protonmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2017 12:07:04 -0500
Subject: Greetings

Good day, i know that this message will come to you as a surprise as
we don't know ourselves before, I got your contact from my
publicrecords search, with believe in God that you will never let me
down in this business. My name's are Henry Oroh, am the Managing
Director and Chief Executive Officer with over eighteen (18) years, i
work with Zenith Bank Ghana, since 1 July 2009. After going through
some old files in my records, I discovered an old account opened in
this bank in 1995 since then nobody has operated this account again
name Mr Rafik Hari, in my investigation in the name he gave the bank,
is not his name. The owner of this account is the late Mr Rafik
Hariri. He was the formal Lebanese Prime Minister and Know other
person knows about this account and know other beneficiary or anything
concerning it, and my investigation proved to me as well that this
bank does not know anything about this account and the amount in the
account is (USD 26 M) twenty six million United States Dollars) and i
know that if i did not remit this money out urgently it would be
forfeited for nothing.

I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with
foreign account and foreign beneficiary. I need your full co-operation
to make this transaction successful because the management is ready to
approve this payment to any foreigner, who has correct information of
this account, which I will give to you later immediately if you are
able and with capability to handle such amount in strict confidence
and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual
benefit because this opportunity will never come again in my life. I
need truthful person in this business because I don't want to make
mistake.

I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds equal
50/50% . My share you will assist me to start a charity organization
to help the poor and also own a company which has been my dream. Let
me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as TOP
SECRET. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent
response.
I need your strong assurance and trust.
I look forward to your earliest reply.

Yours truly,
Mr Henry Oroh

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