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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "ECOBANK \(GH\) LTD" <justiceali@att.net>
Reply-To: <ecobnkonline@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 20:33:39 -0000
Subject: YOUR KIND ATTENTION

The Branch Manager
Eco Bank of Ghana
Kaneshie First Light
Branch Accra, Ghana.
 
I am Mr. Eric Offei, Managing Director of Eco Bank Ghana Ltd., Kaneshie First Light Branch, I have a lucrative business proposal that would interest you, therefore I seek your co-operation regarding this transaction.
 
During the last year end(2010) Final Auditing section I discovered a Dormant Bank Accounts No: (A-1425582004) registered to an International Customer, A Civil Engineer & Building Contractor by profession his record also state the total sum of $8.750 Million USD credit balance held in an Escrow Account whose beneficiary sudden disappearance for 5 years till date without no reason, leaving no WILL and no possible records for trace of heirs to claim his fund. I have coordinated all possible searches on finding his relatives but to no avail.
 
The Bank of Ghana (BOG) has mandated to report all unclaimed fund for permanent closure of accounts that has elapsed dormancy time frame period from being re-activated and to transfer it existing credit balance into the treasury of the Ghanaian government as provided by the law for the management of government assets.
 
Therefore I see this as an opportunity for both of us to explore financially as long as you are ready to comply according to my directives to stand in as the beneficiary to claim the fund and share in ratio of 60 percent for me and 40 percent for you at the end of the deal, THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED.
 
Being the Managing Director and also a top executive officer at (ECO-BANK), I have all the details needed for claim of the fund without any problem, all that is required in this deal is HONESTY/TRUST.
 
This is a great opportunity for a life time of success without risks. If content of the message interest you, kindly send me the following to enable me give you guidelines to achieve success on this transaction.
 
Full Name:
Residential Address:
Telephone/fax……. Mail to: ecobnkonline@msn.com
 
Waiting your response.......
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Eric Offei

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