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: "Andrew Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrew0mensah@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:34:05 -0000
Subject: Its Urgent

Hello,


I got your contact from a professional database when I was searching through
the internet for a reliable, honest and trustworthy person to entrust this
with. I was simply inspired and motivated to pick your details from the many
names in the list of the directory. I am Mr. Andrew Mensah, the Director of
Payment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ghana. My office monitors and
controls the affairs of all banks and Financial institutions in Ghana
concerned with foreign contract payments. I am the final signatory to any
transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local
and international levels in line with foreign contracts settlement.
I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some
nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost
accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. I can now include
your name among the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their
account, on this note; I wish to have a deal with you as regards to this
unpaid funds. I have all the files before me and hope to fix your data
correctly once i hear from you as one of the beneficiaries.
As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the
Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits, I have the
opportunity to write you based on this instructions,
I received two days ago from the parliamentary Committee on Contract Payments
/Foreign Debts to submit the List of payment reports/expenditures and audited
reports of revenues. Among several others, I have decided to remit your contract
sum following my idea that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this
legally.

My conditions are as follows: 1. The sum of US$17.540.000.00 only will be
transferred to you. After you have confirmed the transfer of the total sum
into your account by telegraphic Transfer (T/T),in 3 Working days. I will
fly to your country to meet with you for the sharing. The sharing will go
like this: 35% for you and 65% for me as I intend to take care of the fees
and charges to complete the transaction here in Ghana. If you are comfortable
with this, you can get back to me with your details.
2. This deal must be kept personal, and all correspondence will be strictly by
email and telephone, for security purposes. You must assure me of your 100%
commitment and attention to enable us conclude this transaction in a couple of
days. 3. There should be no third parties as most problems associated with such
transactions or businesses are caused by agents or representatives. If you AGREE
with my conditions, l will advise you on what to do immediately and the transfer
will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the Payment
schedule instantly to meet the three days mandate.

Best Wishes

Andrew Mensah.

Anti-fraud resources: