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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: "Jim Ananeh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jjimnaneh@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:27:43 +0100
Subject: thank you

Dr. Jim Kofi Ananeh
Afrotech Consult Ltd.,
No. 4 Lambert Road,
Accra - Ghana.
 
Dear Partner,
 
With due respect, trust and humility, I write you this proposal believing that it will receive the most desired attention from you even as we have not had any previous correspondence before. Although I am constrained by insufficient information about you, but I will express in full the main objectives of this proposal. This request for your assistance is of mutual benefit to us all. Our company is specialized in contract syndication,projects consulting, monitoring/supervision and management services.
 
We would like to solicit your kindness in assisting us to champion the transfer of some fund from our country to yours for safe keeping. The total amount of fund is US$35million (Thirty-Five Million United States Dollars only). Please note THAT the transfer operation will take seven to ten working days to be completed.
 
You shall be entitled to 30% of this fund for your envisaged efforts and assistance rendered. The remaining 70% would be for our company and the top officials. This proposal is strictly confidential, free from any form of risk and does not depend on any particular field of trade to execute.Therefore, the line of business of yourself/company is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. It however requires your adequate participation and support to enable its accomplishment on schedule.
 
Be informed that on completion of this business our company will use part of its share of the money to invest in your country under your care.Kindly send your reply via email signifying your interest to enable me give you more information, so that we can commence the whole transaction immediately.
 
Your quick and favourable response will be highly appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
 
Dr. Jim Kofi Ananeh
(Executive Director)

Anti-fraud resources: