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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "30% for you " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- rayedward444@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ray edward <rayedward11@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:06:46 +0000
Subject: CONSIDER THIS
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Ray Edward Kwansah, a ghananian working with the canadian high commision in Accra- Ghana. I got your contact on my search for a reliable partner who can finalize this business transaction with me.
The Ghananian government in collaboration with the (IMF) international monetary fund has approved the release US$18,380.000(eighteen million three hundred and eighty thousand dollars) to summit oil and gas services.
Upon the approval, my wife in her capacity as the minister of state for finance in Ghana has initimated me of the need to look for a reliable foreign partner who will work with her to facilitate the release of the above mentioned money to a nominated foreign bank account since Engr. Anthony Hamill who is the beneficiary and managing director of summit oil and gas services died long ago in a terrorist attack by Boko Haram millitant in the northern part of cameroon.
Efforts that has been made by my wife and colleagues to trace the family members of Mr Hamill has not yielded any positive result. My wife and her colleagues has therefore resolved to move the money out of ghana using a reliable and trusted foreign partner than allow the government to declare the funds as unclaimed.The partner will also benefit from the proceeds.
I want to know through a return mail if you can provide me with a bank account where this money can be logded and later shared among us in a favourable ratio of 65% for us, 30% for you and 5% to be set aside for possible expenses.
This proposal is 100% riskfree on our side and my wife and her colleagues has necessary legal documents to facilitate this transaction. They also has an option of disguising this fund in a security vault which can be transported to your destination for your collection. It all depends on the safest way through which you will like the money to be sent to you.
Please advise!
Ray Edward Kwansah.
Direct phone line +233 231835142
please get back to me as follows Email: rayedward444@yahoo.com
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