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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Joseph Osei <drjosephosei3@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: josephosei690@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 06:51:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: drjosephosei3@yahoo.com

FROM,DR.JOSEPH OSEI

- DEAR FRIEND,MY NAME IS MR.JOSEPH OSEI, I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA LTD,OF DAKAR BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF TAKORADI.I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH, I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS. I AM A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE. I HAVE PACKAGED A INANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I,AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA LTD, IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY ACCRA AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR. ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR BUSINESS REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE ($11.5M USD) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF. I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY, SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 30% OF THE TO!
TAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION. THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER, AND ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THESE FUNDS WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT. IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. YOU CAN REACH ME ON MY EMAIL AS APEARED IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS. I WILL PROVIDE MY PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS ON YOUR REQUEST. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOURS TRULY,MR.JOSEPH OSEI


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