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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: william addo <222277776666ssb666@att.net>
Reply-To: mr.william.addo@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:31:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Your Brother William

Dear Friend,
It is nice and wonderful making contact with you today.
As a matter of fact, I am Dr. William Addo, I am currently working with One of the Rural Banks in Ghana as a regional branch manager.

Presently, I am in grip of funds; Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($3.5m USD) readily available for you and me to share, and I am seeking for your cooperation to transfer this cash money to your position.

I realized these funds as part of unclaimed deposited funds by a deceased person and a foreign national of Jordan, who deals on Diamond and precious stones here in Ghana before his death in 2003.

Last year 2009 some funds where discovered unclaimed, and according to the Banking policy; such funds are to be taken to the "National Treasury" but some corrupt colleagues embezzled the previous unclaimed funds, but now, I don't want to fold my hands watch them again on this particular fund that has come as opportunity for me and you.

Immediately I realized these funds $3.5m, I placed it on Sundry Escrow Account here in our bank without beneficiary information and no person knows about it and Because of my position as a regional manager in my bank, the code of conduct bureau forbids me from operating a foreign account, this is why I am contacting you.

Now I choose you as partner and what I want from you is to apply to our Bank head-office as the beneficiary of this fund to be transfer to you and only you as a foreigner can claim this money.
I will send you every information which you will send to our bank head office as the true owner of this money. I am ready to share 40% of theThree million Five hundred thousand dollars ($3.5m) for you while 60% will be for me.

As soon as the money $3.5m is transferred into your account, please keep my share, while I decide on which investment I will establish in your country.

There is no problem in transfer of this money, this is bank to bank transfer.

Kindly and urgently reply to me your willingness for successful transfer of this fund $3.5m into your account and please send to me your
(1).telephone number,
(2).Nationality,
(3).Occupation,
(4).Age
(5).Front page of your passport or drivers license.

Best regards,
Dr. William Addo
+233-243127471.


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