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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: matthew <mtcyril222@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mchfrank111@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:55:54 +0400 (MSD)
Subject: Dear friend

The Barclays Bank of Ghana Ltd, 112 High Street. Accra. Accra, Ghana. Tele:+233248646213 Dear Friend, It is my Pleasure to introduce my humble self to you; my name is frank Michael. I am the regional bank manager of the Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd. I am writing to know if you can help receive this Fund into your account. As the regional Auditor General of the Barclays Bank of Ghana Ltd: it is my duty to submit a financial report to my head office capital city Accra, at the end of each year. Last year 2007 end of year report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made an excess profit of Five million dollars USD {$7,000,000.00} of which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this fund on what we call ESCROW ACCOUNT without any beneficiary. As an officer of the bank I am not directly connected to this fund, this is why I’m contacting you to receive this money into your bank account for us to share. Therefore I would like you to mention your commission for my consideration upon your respond. It will be bank to bank transfer; all I demand of you is to claim as the original depositor, who made the initail deposit with my branch, so that my Head office in Accra Capital can order the release of the fund to your designated bank account. If you've any question contact me through email. Thanks for given me your time. Yours truly, frank Michael

Anti-fraud resources: