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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: "Mr. Collins Mensah" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:08:38 -0000
Subject: Urgent


FROM THE DESK OF Mr.COLLINS MENSAH,
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA,
ACCRA.

I am Mr. Collins Mensah, bill and exchange manager with the above named bank.On a routine inspection, I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL. Of 36,000,000 (Thirty Six Million USD) on further discreet investigation I also discovered that the account holder has long since passed away (Dead), by name Dr George, who died along with his entire family in a plane crash, leaving no beneficiary to the account.

The bank will approve this money to any foreigner who apply for the funds because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner. So I need your assistance in transferring the above sum into your account within 10 to 14 banking working days.

I agree that 40% of this money will be for you in respect of the provision of a foreign account, 5% will be set aside for expenses that may rise during the business and 55% would be for me. Thereafter, I will visit your country for disbursement according to the percentage indicated. Reply me if interested. This is my personal email address: (mr.collins.mensah@neu.com.cn)

Please fill in your personal information’s as indicated below.

Your full name.................................

Your country.........................................

Your age...............................................

Your cell phone....................................

Your occupation...................................

Your sex...............................................

Your marital status................................

Your bank name....................................

Hope to hearing from you soonest.
Best Regards,
Mr. Collins Mensah
Tel; +233-241515745

Anti-fraud resources: