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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: "BOTANG AKWATUA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bakwatua@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:45:17 +0700
Subject: why it is good to be good

Hello Dear Friend,

Compliments of day, and how is work and family?
I have interest of investing in your country as well as seek your services in a private and confidential matter. My Name is Botang Akwatua, A Branch Bank Manager in my Bank.
I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of $8,700.000.00 U.S Dollars. This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made as profit during the 2009financial year. I have already submitted annual report for that year to my head office here in Accra Ghana as I have watched with keen interest as they will never know of this excess.
On my routine inspection I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a Balance of Eight Million Seven Hundred thousand United state dollars ($8.7 Million USD}.I write to seek your indulgence and assistance in transferring this fund to your country through legal means.
Although personally, I kept this information secret within myself to enable the whole plans and idea be profitable and successful during the time of execution. I agree that 40% of this money will be for you as a foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account, 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 55% would be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It's going to be a bank-to-bank transfer.
All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund or the Legal Next of Kin to the deceases person so that the fund can be transferred to your account. If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response to me. Because the banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after Six years, the money will be transferred into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund.
I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your choice in your country for investment. At the conclusion of this transaction, you will be given 40% of the total amount, 55% will be for me and my Bank colleagues who will help make this business a success.
All confirmable documents to back up the claims will be made available to you prior to your acceptance. Meanwhile, I have worked out the strategies and technicalities whereby the funds can be Transfer to you without any hitches.

Incase you are interested, Please email me your direct telephone number, for discussion of this.
So please give it a benefit of doubt and with good faith and trust join me and I am assuring you now that you will never be disappointed. You can contact me back with my email address:

Kindly respond to my email, Let me know if you can handle it.

Regards,

Mr. BOTANG AKWATUA

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