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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: "ICB-GHANA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamespeter.icbbank@barid.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:23:55 -0400
Subject: PLEASE READ AND REPLY!

DEAR FRIEND
My name is Mr. James Peter, a Senior Staff and Regional Branch Manager here
in our Bank at International Commercial Bank Ghana. I got your information during
my searcher on your Country Chambers of Comers. I am 47 Years of Age and Married with five Lovely Kids.
It may Interest you to hear that I am a Man of PEACE.
I only hope we can assist each other. I have packaged a financial Transaction that will benefit both of us, as the Regional Bank Manager, it is my duty to send
in a Financial report to my head Office in the capital City Accra at the end of each year.
On the course of last year 2011 end of year report, I discovered that my
  branch in which I am the manager made Three Million Five Hundred thousand United
State Dollars [$3.5million] Which my Head Office, are not aware.
Then I decided to place this fund on what we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without
any Beneficiary. As staff of the Bank I can not be directly connected to this money,
so that is why i have to contact you for us to work together so that you can
assist me to receive this money into your bank account.
I am willing to give you 40% of the total fund. Note there are practically
no risk involved, it will be bank to bank transfer.
All I need from you is honesty,sincerity and assist me to claim as the
original depositor of this fund, so that my Head office can order the transfer to your
designated bank account.
I am going to programmed your name in the database of the Bank as the real
depositor of the funds for the past 3 years which is 2009 and that you want
to relocate back to your country and therefore you are requesting to close
down the account, and transfer the money back to your country.
If you accept this offer to work with me, I will appreciate it very much.
As soon as I receive your response I will details you on how we can achieve it
successfully.
Please for any further communications; get in touch with me through my
Alternative email at jamespeter.icbbank@barid.com
Best Regards,
Mr.James Peter
Regional Branch Manager International Commercial Bank Ghana
 

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