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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: Koffi Adams <koffiadams37@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:23:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: top urgent



FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING

ACCRA-GHANA.

FROM: ENGR. KOFFI ADAMS,



ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FOR TRANSFER OF US$25M AND ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES (REAL
ESTATES)





Dear sir,



I am making this contact with you on behalf of my colleagues. I am a member of
the TENDER BOARD COMMITTEE of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing of Ghana.
Our duties includes: award, evaluation and review of contracts. In 1996, my
committee (TBC) awarded a contract of US$150,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty
Million United States Dollars only) to a joint venture of SPEIBATIGNOLES and
FOUGEROLLE, for an engineering, procurement, construction of pipeline network
an Elmina Petro-Chemical plant. As it were, the actual contract sum was
deliberately over-invoiced by us (TBC) with the sum of US$25,000,000.00
(TWENTY-FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY).



The project was executed, commissioned and the contractor(s) paid accordingly.
my colleagues and I want to transfer the over-invoiced amount into a viable
foreign account. We have therefore resolved that as long as you can act as the
sole beneficiary of the fund. The following will be the mode of sharing: 25%
(i.e US$6.25M) for beneficiary i.e. owner of account, 10% for expenses incurred
during the course of transfer and 65% for us the officials. Let me reiterate at
this juncture, that there are top and influential government officials involved
in this transfer and as such I would appreciate it, if this business is treated
with utmost confidentiality.



I do hope I can trust you as regards this matter. In the light of this, I would
like you to forward to me the following information:



1. Your company name and address if any

2. Your personal fax number

3. Your personal telephone number for easy communication.



This will enable us to forward the information to the Corporation for purposes
of processing and immediate remittance of these funds to the account that will
be provided by you. All modalities have been worked out and the necessary
machinery put in place with the officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance
and the Central Bank of Ghana (CBG) to effect this transfer within the shortest
possible time. It is worthy to note that this transaction is 100% risk free; my
only fear is the confidentiality of this business from your end.



It is pertinent to note that only an expatriate firm can lay claim to this
fund. We are barred from operating foreign accounts as civil servants still
serving the government. As soon as the payment is effected, and the amount
mentioned above is successfully transferred into your account, we intend to use
own share in acquiring some properties (Real Estates) Abroad. For this too, you
shall also serve as our agent. Please send your reply through this my email
address and I shall send you my phone number as we progress.



Note that this E-mail is not one of those Internet jokes and should be treated
with seriousness, utmost important and confidentiality. Your quick response
will be highly appreciated. If however, you are not disposed to assist, kindly
destroy this letter, in view of the confidentiality of the proposed transaction
and for the interest of the personalities involved.



Please reply to : koffiadams37@gmail.com





Yours faithfully



ENGR. KOFFI ADAMS.


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