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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 kwame" <josephkwame122@livedoor.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:23:50 -0700
Subject: Respond Urgently


Good day ,

I am Joseph .E. Kwame a Male Ghanaian of 24years going to 25years of age,My
Father Told Us you have been of help to him before and that in case of any
unforeseen circumstances like this that we should contact you. I am the
first Son of my parent with my 11 years old brother as the only children of
my father and mother.However, I wish to inform you that my father was the
commander of the ancient Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana,which I suppose you know,
There was a controversial scandal going on in the Gold Sector of the
Government whereby the government requested he should over influence a
contract to the sum of US$300,000,000.00 Million to their personal benefits
as top officials of the government.

To the refusal of my father to this proposal, they have to kill him to have
their way for their own selfish interest. But before the death of my father,
he told me that he deposit the sum of US$10,500,000.00 with a security
company in two metallic boxes as consignments but registered them as
precious items and personal effects.

He told me that in case if anything happens to him that, I should make sure
I find you his foreign partner that will help us move the consignments out
from the security company and invest the funds. He also warned us not to
associate with any of his friends down here or members of the family for our
own safety.

I want you to know that he gave me the Certificate of Deposit of the funds,
Consignment Control Label Number and Transfer Freight Manifest and I will
supply you with these documents once you agree to help us and have only 30%
of the total funds after your efforts.

Hoping to hear from you so that I will inform you what to do next.My private
email box is josephkwame@gmail.com.

Yours truly,
Joseph Kwame

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