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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: "Mr. Ofori Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <inter.comm.plc@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:02:30 -0000
Subject: FROM Mr. Ofori Williams,

Mr. Ofori Williams,
Regional Manager,
Icb Bank Plc,
Kumasi Main Branch,
Adeabeba, Ahodwo Road,
Kumasi, Ghana.

Attn, Dear

I got your contact during my search for a reliable, honest and a trust worthy
person to entrust this huge transfer project with. My name is Mr. Ofori Williams, Iam the Regional manager of the above mentioned Bank In the Northern region of
Republic of Ghana.

I am a Ghanaian married with two kids. I have contacted you so that this
transaction can benefit the both of us, knowing you are advanced in age with
the fear of God, but if you are not willing to get involved in the Deal, do
not REPLY THIS MAIL, as you will never hear from me again.

I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of
Us$7,500.000.00USD.This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am
the manager made as profit during the last year. I have already submitted an
approved end of the year report for the year 2009 to my head office Here in
Ghana and they will never know of this excess. I have since then, Placed this
amount of US$7,500.000.00 on a suspense account without a beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus;
I am compelled to request your assistance to receive this money into your bank
account.

I intend to part 40% of this fund to you while 60% shall be for me. I do need
to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It is going to
be a bank-to-bank transfer. All I need is for you to stand as the original
depositor of this fund.

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response. Note that you
are free to come to Ghana for confirmation.

With Regards,
Mr. Ofori Williams.

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