joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "KWESI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chiefnanakwesi@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:27:40 +0100
Subject: REMANDER, PLS. I SEEK TO WORK OUT THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU

Good day,
Please do not think this is one of those junk mails you receive in your mailbox/fax machine, which I receive also, but I plead for your tolerance. My name is chief Nana kwesi, I write to solicit your assistance in a business deal involving a trunk box of GOLD WORTH 100KG.
this GOLD was held by my village king who died last year as a result of heart attack, after his death I was given the village paramount chief which I am in charge now and will continue handling till we can be able to elect another new King. This TRUNK BOX OF GOLD has been deposited with the security company for almost 3 years ago here in Ghana, and was guided by our community lawyer who is now presently my friend.
He gave me all detailed information that i need to know regarding this transaction and how to move ahead and claim it as it was written that the GOLD has to be claimed by a foreign partner because this TRUNK BOX was brought out from the mining company here in OBUASI Ghana which the company is in my community land here in Obuasi which is one of the biggest mining company in West Africa.

I have all you need to claim this GOLD all i need from you is your sincerity, honesty and trust that if the GOLD comes you will not betray me or made away with all the WEALTH as I have trust in you on this DEAL, so please do not disappoint me.
I am contacting on you based on the information at hand and if you must know this is a great opportunity for us since the lawyer is behind this plan.

after we regain this box of GOLD we are offering the lawyer some substantial amount for his contribution and the remaining will be shared among ourselves.
I hope you do understand me and for us to expedite action, Please on a more serious note do not disclose this to any one as you know its a private policy, I hope you get this message straight so email me so we will see how possible we can make this work out and if there is any other thing you would want to know regarding this do not hesitate to let me know.
Take care and have a blissful day while looking forward to hearing from you as soon as you get this.

Your sincerely,
Chief Nana kwesi (paramount chief obuasi community)

Anti-fraud resources: