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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:07:18 +0000
Subject: HELLO PLEASE READ!!!

I am Mr.Andrew Amponsah, Former Accountant of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Ghana and now member of the Ghanaian diplomatic mission to the United
Kingdom. My office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and
Financial institutions in Ghana concerned with foreign contract payments. I am
the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within
banks both on the local and international levels in line to foreign contracts
settlement.
I have before me a list of funds, which could not be transferred to some
nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost
accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum . I can now include your
name among the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their
account. on this note, I wish to have a deal with you as regards to this
unpaid funds. I have all the files before me and hope to fix your data
correctly once i hear from you as one of the beneficiaries.
As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the
Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits, I have
the opportunity to write you based on this instructions I received two days
ago from the parliamentary Committee on Contract Payments/Foreign Debts to
submit the List of payment reports/expenditures and audited reports of
revenues. Among several others, I have decided to remit your contract sum
following my idea that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this
legally.
Please reply to my email below.
Email: anamponsah120@yahoo.com.hk
Regards,
Andrew Amponsah

Anti-fraud resources: