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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "escrow account with no beneficiary" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: morris jacob <morrisjacob1@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:01:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Urgent Attention;
Hello my dear,
I am Mr.Morris Koffi from Ghana a staff of ICB BANK GHANA LTD. I work in the International Commercial bank as a clerk.
As a clerk in the bank my position is very low but I have access to a lot of secret because I handle the bank's most sensitive files. My dear read this mail with understanding and take your time to properly study the facts contained in the message.
Honestly, on my duty recently I discovered deposited $4Million dollars in our bank escrow account with no beneficiary. The fund was deposited by our late customer Mr. Elmer Lesley, who is into oil bunkering, Mr. Elmer and his friend died in Malabo high sea after an encounter with Equatorial Guinea naval patrol team and left no next of kin.
That means my bank has lost record of its owner. I can give you the account information of the account and my bank contact so you can contact them and tell them you are the owner of the money so they should transfer it to your country's account.
My bank will believe you because your proof is your ability to know the account details and my bank will transfer without questioning. If you accept to work with me we share 50/50) Get back to me as soon as possible.
Thank for your cooperation.
Morris J. Koffi
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Anti-fraud resources:
