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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Fred Safo <fredsafo53@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 03:18:30 -0800
Subject: Greetings From Fred, Kindly Reply Back Please

*Compliment,My name is Mr. Fred A. Safo, a politician and a previous member
of Ghana's executive committee on contract awards.My purpose of contacting
you is to crave your indulgence to assist me in securing some funds abroad
for safe keeping which I incidentally kept to help me finance my senatorial
elections campaign under the party umbrella of National Patriotic Party
(NPP), Unfortunately for me I lost the senatorial seat during my party
conducted election primary to my opposition member under the same party
umbrella.But with my immediate contact, I was able to deposit some money
emanated from award of contracts awarded to Chinese and Malaysia companies
in a security vault with a commercial bank in Ghana pending when I will
found a trustworthy person to move out the fund from Ghana to oversea bank
account forbusiness investment.The need to contact you arose from the fact
that the present elected government vow to crack down on past immediate
government functionaries of (NPP) and trying to trace all the funds that
was made through contract awards and other mouth watering deals during our
tenure in the office from the year 2000 to 2008, if they succeed in tracing
this fund to me, they will seize it and thereby incapacitating my life time
opportunities.I wish to relocate this fund in a foreigner's name to avoid
any trace. All I need from you is an assurance that you can handle the
amount involved (US$19,500,000) comfortably and that I can also trust
you.Be fully rest assured that there is no risk involved. I want you to
immediately inform me of your willingness in assisting and co-operating
with me,Yours faithfully,Mr. Fred safo*

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