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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: "Dr. Philip Mensah" <dr_pm_minster@indiatimes.com>
Reply-To: p_mensah@k.ro
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 22:33:52 -0800
Subject: Investment proposal


FROM THE DESK OF DR.PHILIP MENSAH
AUDITOR,
MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT,
ACCRA GHANA.
DATE: 15 - 02 - 06


DEAR FRIEND,

LETTER FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE ON FUND TRANSFER

First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction.
This by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and TOP
SECRET.

I got your contact in our search for a foreign partner who has the ability and reliability to prosecute a transaction of great magnitude involving a pending business transaction requiring maximum confidence.

We are top officials of the FEDERAL MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT Accra - Ghana.

We are interested in investments in your country with funds which are
presently trapped here Ghana in other to commence this business we
solicit your assistance to enable us transfer into your account the said
trapped funds.

The source of this fund is as follows: During our last year auditing, we found out that some government officials set up companies and awarded themselves contracts which were grossly over invoiced in various ministries.

We also identified a lot of inflated contracts funds which are presently deposited in our APEX BANK here in Accra. However, by virtue of our position as civil servants and members of the panel ,we cannot acquire this money in our names.

I have therefore, been delegated as a matter of trust by my colleagues of the panel to look for an overseas partner(s) into whose account we would transfer the total sum of USD$35,500,000.00 [THIRTY FIVE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS],hence we are writing you this letter.

We agreed to share the money thus: [1] 20% FOR THE ACCOUNT OWNER [YOU] [2] 80% FOR US [THEOFFICALS] It is from the 80% that we wish to commence investments in your country as you will also stand as our foreign agent over there. Please note that this transaction is 100% safe and we hope to commence the transaction latest seven[7]days from the date of the receipt of the following information bellow.

[A] COMPANY?S NAME BENEFICIARY OF ACCOUNT.
[B] YOUR PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBERS.
[C] BANK ACCOUNT/SORT/ABA/ROUTING NUMBERS WHICH THE FUND WILL BE TRANSFERED TO.
[D]YOUR BANK ADDRESS,TELEPHONE NUMBERS/FAX NUMBERS.

The above information will enable us commence the transfer of this funds into your account in your country without delay and also to open an account in your name. We
are looking forward to doing this business with you and solicit your confidentiality in this transaction. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter using the above email address; I will bring you into the complete picture of this pending project when I hear from you.

With Kind regards,

DR.Philip Mensah

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