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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: VINA JOHNSON <vinajh74@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2015 18:53:05 +0100
Subject: ENQUIRY/PROPOSAL

Hello,

My name is Dr. Mrs Elvina Johnson, a staff in the Private Clients Section
of a well-known bank, here in Accra, Ghana. One of our accounts, with
holding balance of $1,500,000 (One Million,Five Hundred Thousand Dollars)
has been dormant and last operated three years ago. From my investigations
and confirmation, the owner of the said account, a foreigner by name James
Woodgate, has since died in a plane crash in 2011.

Since then, nothing has been done with regards to claiming the money; as he
has no family member that has any knowledge of the existence of either the
account or the funds; and also Information from the National Immigration
also states that he was single on entry into Ghana.

I have decided to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. I therefore
propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of these
funds from the deceased; the funds will be released to you after necessary
processes have been followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is
legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundery, terrorism or
any other illegal act.

On your interest, let me hear from you URGENTLY. (elvinajohnson@yandex.com)

Best Regards,
Dr Elvina Johnson(Mrs)
Financial Analyst and Remittance Manager

Anti-fraud resources: