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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: kofi williams <kofiw105@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 May 2015 11:47:35 +0100
Subject: This is Williams

--

I am kofi williams, Director of Projects, GHANA Department of Minerals &
Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the committee's need for
an individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a
money transfer.
In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and
honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and
confidentiality. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with
you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all
parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of
this transaction.

Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of
Project and with the co-operation of one other top officials, we have in
our possession as overdue payment bills totaling Twenty - Six Million, Four
Hundred And Twenty Six Thousand U. S Dollars (US $26,426,000.00) which we
want to transfer abroad with the assistance and co-operation of a foreign
company/individual to receive the said funds on our behalf or a reliable
foreign non-company account to receive such funds. More so, we are
handicapped in the circumstances, as the GHANA Civil Service Code of
Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance
in the whole transaction.

This amount (US$26.426M) represents the balance of the total contract value
executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we
the officials over-invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost
have been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune
of the said amount which we have in principles got approval to remit by
Telegraphic Transfer (T.T) to any foreign bank account you will provide by
filing in an application through the Justice

Department here in GHANA for the transfer of rights and privileges of the
former contractor to you.
I have the authority of my partner involved to discuss on the modalities of
sharing with you. Your share of the entire sum will be US$5,9M(22.2%),
US$12Million (46.6%)for us and US$8Million (31.2%) for taxation and
miscellaneous expenses. The business itself is 100% safe, on your part
provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Also, your
area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of
this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you
will not disappoint me.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.any questions
concerning the clarity of this transaction.you can contact me at
kofiwilliams13@yahoo.com
Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.
Best Regards,

Mr. kofi williams,

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