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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. George Kwessi Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ibfsghana@e-mail.ua>
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2015 13:47:25 -0800
Subject: 05:03:2015

After a serious thought, I decided to reach you directly and personally. My name is Rev. George Kwessi Mensah 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




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 o
f yours to swindle you of your mo



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
George Kwessi Mensah

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