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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: "DANNY MENSAH" <danny_gha@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 12:38:50 +0000
Subject: REGARDS

DANNY MENSAH JR
ALTERNATIVE EMAIL: DANNY_GHA@ZIPMAIL.COM.BR


DEAR SIR,

I AM DANNY MENSAH JR FROM LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA. I WRITE TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO INVEST, AND TO BUY A LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM THE FIRST SON OF MR. DANNY MENSAH JR, MY FATHER WAS A DIAMOND/GOLD MERCHANT IN
MY COUNTRY.MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT BY THE REBELS ON HIS WAY TRAVELLING OUT OF MY COUNTRY WITH TWO OF MY YOUNGER SISTER'S DUE TO PRESENT CRISIS THAT IS OCCURING IN OUR COUNTRY (LIBERIA). MY SISTER'S DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE U.N.PEACE MAKER, KEEPING FORCE RESCUED MY FATHER, HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL. TREATMENT WHICH HE LATER DIED. BEFORE HE DIED HE REAVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER ABOUT THE BOXES CONTAINING: 85 KILO OF RAW GOLD AND $12.5 MILLION, (TWELVE MILLION AND FIVE HUNDERED THOUSAND US DOLLARS).WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA FOR SAFE KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY OF THE CONTENT OF THE BOXES TO THE SECURITY COMPANY.TO AVIOD THE OFFICIALS FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUNDS. PRESENTLY MY MOTHER AND I ARE HERE IN GHANA TO NOTIFY THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR THE CLAIMS, AND WE ARE STAYING IN THE REFUGEE CAMP. THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE OR HELP ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN GET AND INVEST THIS MONEY, BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT
IT IS DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN AFRICA TO AVIOD SUSPICIONS, AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY COUPLED WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO INVEST IN ABROAD. FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MY MOTHER AND MYSELF HAVE AGREED TO OFFER
YOU 25% O F THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY.

WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU THROUGH FAX ON REQUEST.NOTE: I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART FROM YOU, SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.WHICH I WILL WANT YOU TO
FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.

I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

BEST REGARDS,

DANNY MENSAH



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