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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: "Rev. Tong Abbah" <revtong_abbah@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:45:44 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,Reply

>From Rev. Tong Abbah
COMPUTER CREDITING DEPARTMENT
BANK OF GHANA
1 THORPE ROAD,
P.O. BOX 2674
ACCRA GHANA


Attn. ...................

Dear sir,



After a serious thought, I decided to reach you directly and
personally. My name is Rev. Tong Abbah the Computer
crediting Department, Bank of Ghana (Bank of Ghana). I am
responsible for all wire remittance transfer/final crediting
to beneficiaries account at Bank of Ghana. I am compelled to
contact you directly considering the pressure, threat and
blackmail directed at my person by your associates, here in
Ghana over my refusal to authorize remittance of your
inherited sum, which is still in Bank of Ghana’s suspense
account till date. Yes, all bureaucratic procedure for the
transfer of the fund is in place but it came a little too
late. After the enactment of a law by the national assemble
on transfer of huge sum without presidential order in other
to strengthen its fight against corruption from all fronts.
In fact, it has set up a probe panel headed by a renowned
economist to investigate all foreign transfer/payment
since 2008 to date this development makes it very risky
trying to remit your inherited fund into your account. You
and I, likewise your partners here know quite well that you
never had any relationship with the deceased be it relation
or business wise to guarantee your claim.



In view of the above, I seriously advice you to hold on for
the remittance now until when the right time comes because
there is no way I will authorize such payment that I will
not be probed and you the receiving account owner being in
trouble. I cherished my job a lot I believe you do so to
your reputation. Instead of adhering to my advice they have
introduced the use of ATM CARD which you know is not
possible to use to withdraw that kind of money. There is no
money on the ATM CARD and all those pin and stuffs like that
is not true. I am aware that your partners have been
pestering you with money demand and have made you spend so
much to offset one official bill, tax or one international
or local certificate which you ought to know is not
conventional. All financial commitment on a fund beneficiary
will be deducted from the sum in our possession before
remittance. our bank will issue you with any certificate you
may need once transfer is made, so don’t allow these
partners of yours to swindle you of your money on the
pretense of official bureaucracy, your worst enemy is your
so called lawyer who mastermind all this act to get money
from you because he know you trust him so much. The local
bank knows what is holding your money but because they have
conspired with your lawyer and representative they cannot
tell you the truth. They know what is holding back this
transfer, but will not let you know it because of the money
they are collecting from you. I have tried to make your
partners reason with me, and tell you the truth, but because
of the money they receive from you they threaten to make
life miserable for me and my family if I dare tell you the
truth and about their activities. Your lawyer even sends his
agent to my office today with US$2000.00 so that I will not
let you know the truth for them to continue collecting money
from you. I am a Christian, I cannot eat that kind of money
I told him and they left in anger with treats. This
compelled me to let you know about their activities.


I tried calling you on the phone to explain all this to you
but your telephones are never picked, always on answering
machine. I have been scared to write you all this while,
because I am afraid you will forward my message to them and
they will come after me, but with the present demand on you
I cannot keep quite else they destroy you. If you can call
and promise me that you will not relate my message to them,
then I will tell you what to do to get your fund with the
assistance of a reputable financial attorney within 5 days.


I have my interest, but that will be when I hear from you,
but be rest assured it is not monetary interest. You have
done something for too long without success, all you get is
different stories and lie, why don’t you sit down and
think, ask yourself questions and try a different means and
different person.

I will wait to hear from you if you wish, but if you don’t
keep this message and the day you realize is the truth call
or write me.


Yours Sincerely

Rev.Tong Abbah
Bank of Ghana


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