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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: International Commercial Bank <officebox@hot.ee>
Reply-To: icbghana@e-mail.ua
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:47:20 +0300
Subject: Credit Alert!!!!!!!!!!!


International Commercial Bank (ICB) Ghana LtdMeridian
House, Ring Road Central,Private Mail Bag 143No.
16, Accra North,Accra,
Ghana

Attention:
Beneficiary
RE: PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF
US$1.5M
I am Mr. Kweku Mensah, Head of
operation and  Swift Transfer Unit of International Commercial Bank
(ICB) Ghana Ltd
Sometime ago, in our bank your
payment was brought to our bank from Apex Bank, and after some period,
this money was taken back to the Government treasury. For the period of
time this money was in our bank, it generated an interest of US$1.5
Million, which we are about to be pay to you via Electronic banking
transfer system.
For your information and
advice, you need to hasten up to pick this Fund because from time to
time the Apex Bank auditors do come to our bank to cross-check our files
and our financial update, the earlier you comply with the demands of the
transferring of the fund, the faster the action, because the Apex Bank
officials wants the accrued interest to be paid to them but we refused,
so when they find out that this interest fund is still in our bank they
will want to call back the money to the Government
treasury.
What we need from you now is any form
of your identification for example; your international passport or
you’re driver’s license, then your telephone and fax number for easy
communication with your receiving bank account
details.
As a matter of fact we don’t have
enough time to waste since we have wasted time in contacting our
respective customers, so try and comply with the entire necessary
requirement for remittance, expecting your immediately
response.
For your information we are paying
you for now US$1.5M
Your urgent response is
imperative
MR. KWEKU MENSAHHEAD OF
OPERATIONINTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA

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