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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: john mensah <johnmensah962@gmail.com>
Reply-To: john_mensah121@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 04:36:29 -0700
Subject: HOW ARE YOU TODAY

REGUEST TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF USD$10.MILLION ONLY)TO YOUR SAFE ACCOUNT

I wish to intimate you with this proposal in my capacity as Chief
Financial Controller,ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN
STATES(ECOWAS)and in full agreement and consent with the
Auditor-General and the chairman,ECOWAS CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE.We
scrutinized all records and the accounts of awarded and executed
contracts to supply arms and ammunitions to the Ecowas Peace Keeping
Forces(ECOMOG)in Liberia and Sierra-Leone during the Civil war,However
we deliberately over invoiced the contract sum to $55.Million.The
actual contract sum was $45.Million.The original Contractor has been
paid off.Since the inception of democracy in those countries,we
therefore seek for your assistance to transfer into your account as
the beneficiary,the over invoiced whooping sum of $10.Million.

As top civil Servants, we are not authorized to operate foreign bank
accounts hence our decision to use your account in full trust and
confidence to transfer this money into your account. We have accepted
you as our foreign partner and will regularize and update the
approvals to reflect you as the true beneficiary of the contract.

Moreover, it is pertinent to note that it is not risky and does not
require much engagements since we have taken care of the deal in full
capacity. We have resolved to give you 30% of the total sum for your
assistance. If you are interested in this deal Remember to give to me
your phone and fax lines through which l can send you approved
documents for your perusal. You will send me a letter of invitation
immediately the money get into your account,to represent my
colleagues. I am anxiously waiting for your response with hope that
you will understand the confidential nature of this transaction.

DR.JOHN MENSAH
Chief Financial Controller{ECOWAS}
+233 249 139 962

Anti-fraud resources: