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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: Commodore Steve kwame <wiredumargret@gmail.com>
Reply-To: commodorekwame@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 20:42:34 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY

My Dear,

How are you doing? Please get back to me if you can handle this project.

My name is Steve Commodore G.Obimpeh,Chairman Contract Procurement
Authority,Republic of Ghana,(Rtd.) I have been motivated to contact
you on a vital issue after viewing your profile.

I want to invest in the REAL ESTATE BUSINESS in your country under your care.

I want to buy some houses in your country through your help,Meanwhile
i don`t want anybody in my country to know that this money belong to
me,for the fact that we are not allowed to operate in foreign account
when working under the Government,and that is the reason why i need
your assistance.

Right now i have the sum [$2.5m] Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars,which i deposited in an Escrow Account.

I make this money through over invoice from the contracts that has
been awarded to the foreign companies and has been already executed
the contract.

I want you to stand firm as the owner of the fund,I will give you the
Bank information with the deposit certificate so that you can contact
the bank for the release/transfer the fund into your account over
there.

I have already made up my mind to give you 20% of the total money for
your assistance,Other government officers have been doing this here in
my country just to secure some money outside the country.

As soon as i hear from you i will give you all the details/information
you need for the transaction including the deposit certificate,which
will enable you contact the bank for release and transfer the fund
into your own account.

Please get back to me with a copy of your national identity card and
also your direct cell phone number,so i can call you for more details.

You give me your direct Mobile Phone Number...................

I hope to hear from you as soon as possible.

Regards,

Steve Commodore G.Obimpeh.

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