joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mr. Joseph Addo." <dd_jsph@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: dd_jsph@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 07:33:40 -0700
Subject: Investment Management




Hello,
Dear,

Please pardon me for writing without any formal introductions. My name is Mr. Joseph Addo; I’ve been the General Manager of International Homes Limited for 7yrs. International Homes Limited a subsidiary of International Commercial Bank; which manages all housing schemes for International Commercial Bank all over Ghana.

In July 2004, i made the sum of $3.550m (USD) when i brokered a deal between an international estate conglomerate and a local estate management company, which is into acquisition of properties. And i deposited this aforementioned fund in an escrow call account in our bank (International Commercial Bank).

In essence i need you to stand as the beneficiary of this account. And I’m ready to part with 30% to the person that will stand as the beneficiary of this account. Please know that the transfer will only take three working days, because it shall be done through telegraphic transfer.

Please note that this is business and a serious one that need total commitment and honesty.
Thanks for your anticipated co-operation; call or email me immediately you receive this message.


Yours truly,
Mr. Joseph Addo.


--

Anti-fraud resources: