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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: "Benjamin Mensah" <benjaminmensah200@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 19:53:14 +0100
Subject: PLEASE HELP.

Dear Friend,

l am Benjamin Mensah, a Sierra Leonian national, I got your contact
from the Internet Directory of our Chamber of Commerce and have no
doubt in your ability to handle this proposal involving huge sum of
money.
My father Dr. Idrissu Mensah (Now Late) was the Royal Head of my
community, BO (a mineral rich town) in Sierra Leone. My community
produces 50.8% of the total crude gold and diamond production in
Sierra Leone and 0.5% of the Dollar value of each Kilo is paid to
my father as royalty by the former sierra Leonian government. My
father was also the Chairman of BO Special Mineral Trust Fund. In
his position as the Royal head and Chairman of the Mineral Trust
Fund, he made some money that he left for me as the son to inherit.
The money is Eight Million US Dollars($8m).

This Money originated from the accumulated royalties between 2001
to 2004. Due to poor banking system in Sierra Leone and political
instability as a result of the fratricidal war going on in Sierra
Leone for the past Nine years, he deposited this Money in a vault
of a Security Company in Ghana,{where I am residing now}, with me as beneficiary pending
when he would finish arrangement to transfer it abroad. He was
planning this when he died late last year of Heart Attack.

Just before my father died he called my attention to the money
and charged me to look for a foreigner who would assist me in the
transfer / investment of the funds abroad. I am asking you to be my
partner in transferring this money to your country and investing it
in fruitful ventures for our mutual benefit. I promise to give you
30% of the total funds transferred as compensation for your
assistance. Five percent (5%)would be set aside to take care of all
expenses we may incur during the transaction.

If you indicate interest, contact me urgently through my e-mail
Address for more information and the roles you will play in this
business. However, you are to provide me with the following
information for our safety and security purposes. Your Full Names,
Your company Name and address, Your Telephone and Fax Numbers
(Office & private) . I await your response.

Yours faithfully,

Mr Benjamin Mensah.




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