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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: "Mr.Samuel Kofi" <kofisamuel@outlook.com>
Reply-To: kofisamuel99@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2016 05:57:02 -0600
Subject: Re:very Urgent



--
Hello Friend.


I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you
will not betray me. I am Mr.Samuel Kofi, a Bank officer here in GHANA
West Africa. One of our Late client, a citizen of your country had a
fixed deposit with my bank in 2005 for 108 calendar months, valued at
US$15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of January
2015. Sadly he was among the death victims on the May 11 2014 fatal
accident in Ghana involving seven vehicles near Awutu-Effutu-Senya
district in the Central Region of Accra where thirty-five people were
killed on the spot.Read article

My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it
because he was my friend and I am his Account Officer. He did not
mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, he was not
married and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested that he
should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the
contract.


I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means
to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to know
that he is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the funds for
their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That is why I am
seeking your co-operation to present you as the Next of Kin/ Heir to the
account, since you are a foreigner and my bank head quarters will
release the account to you.


There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law. It
is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to
take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am
suggesting we share the funds in this ratio, 50/50%, equal sharing. Let
me know your mind on this and please do treat this information highly
confidential. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent
response directly to my private e-mail: kofisamuel99@yahoo.com

Regards,
Mr.Samul Kofi.

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