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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: "Mr.Abodo Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abodo_williams52@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:47:02 -0000
Subject: urgent reply



Dear Friend, My name is Mr.Abodo Williams the Regional manager,Essam Branch, in the Western Region of Ghana.

I got your contact during my search for a reliable, trust worthy and Honest person to introduce this transfer project with me. I am a Ghanaian, I am 46 years old married with two kids.
I am writing to solicit your assistance in the noble transfer of US$ 5.200.000.00. I have packaged a transaction that will be of mutual benefit to us. As the branch manager of the bank, it is my duty to send a financial report to my head office in the capital city, Accra, at the end of each financial year.

Following the release of the last year financial report, (2006), I discovered that my branch made Five million, five hundred thousand United States Dollars ($5,500,000.00); from the transactions accruing to the account of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) which my head office will never be aware of because it was not detected by the audit department from the head office.

I have diverted the funds into what the bank call an "Escrow Call Account" with no beneficiary. As the branch manager of this bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my contacting you is to assist me receive the funds in your bank account in your country and get 30% of the total funds as your benefit.

If you agree to assist me, I will immediately program your full information in the computer system here in Essam branch as an Escrow Call Account holder/depositor of my bank.
All I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of this fund.Mail me if you
think we can work together, on this emai
abodo_williams52@yahoo.com.hk
Thanks for your co-operation in advance.
Yours truly,
Mr Abodo Williams

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