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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: Otabil Mensah <test@intaktiv.intl>
Reply-To: <otabil_mensah@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2016 16:58:26 +0200
Subject: URGENT HELP

Dear Friend.

I am surprised not getting a response from the earlier mail I sent to you.

Let me start by introducing myself properly to you. I am Mr. Otabil Mensah, the Bank Manager of a Financial Institution. My client who
died few years ago in Ghouta chemical weapons attack in Syria during his business trip and both of you have the same last names. My client
was a supplier of High Tech Machineries, plants and equipment for the renovation of our international airport. Prior his demise, he secured
a contract of US$21,000,000 from our aviation ministry which he received a 64.3% mobilization fee of USD$13,500,000 and successfully
executed the contract. The 35.7% balance of his payment amounting to USD$7,500,000 due to him was paid into his account few months after
his sudden Death.

Unfortunately he did not properly introduce any beneficiary to his account at his demise and I have tried to reach his family but all
efforts proved void, hence my contacting you are to request your assistance to stand as My client next of kin so that my bank can
transfer the USD$7,500,000 funds to your account, I agree that we share the funds 40% for you and 60% for me, also my 60% share will
also be invested in your country under your care.

I understand this might be against your ethical belief and personal indoctrination but life is not often what we think it is. I did not
mastermind the death of my client. If there were something I could have done officially to have this money sent to his real relatives,
believe me, I would have done it since my religion forbids to take somebody else thing but, frankly speaking, it will be stupid of me to
leave this funds in my bank.

Now, as an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to the fund which make me to request for your assistance to stand as the next
of kin to Mr My client to receive the fund. Kindly get back to me on this id( otabil_mensah@hotmail.com ) for a brief discussion on how to proceed.
Please do treat this information as Top secret. Thanks for your understanding.

Regards
Mr. Otabil Mensah
otabil_mensah@hotmail.com

________________________________

Bu belgedeki bilgiler gizli veya hukuken korunması gereken bilgiler içerebilir. İşbu belge metnine dair herhangi bir açıklama, kullanma, kopyalama, dağıtım yapılması veya bu belgenin içeriğine dayanarak herhangi bir eylemin yapılmasının kesinlikle yasak olduğunu bildiririz. Bu belge firmasına ait değerli ticari sırları ve gizli bilgileri içerir. Önceden yazılı izin alınmadığı sürece söz konusu bilgiler; herhangi bir kişi ya da kuruluşa, herhangi bir mülkiyet hakkı vermez, işbu bilgiler hiç bir şekilde ifşa edilmeyecektir. Bu belgenin tarafınıza iletilmiş olması; hiç kimseye belge içeriğindeki ürünleri, teknoloji veya fikri mülkiyet içeren herhangi bir bilgiyi kısmen veya tamamen yayma, dağıtma, ifşa etme hakkı vermez. The information contained in this document may contain confidential or legally privileged information. Hereby notified that any disclosure, use, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this document is strictly prohibited. This document contains valuable trade secrets and confidential information belonging to . The aforementioned shall not be disclosure is subject to the provisions of wrietten non-disclosed to any proprietary rights agreement approved by . The distribution of this document does not grant any license or rights, in whole or in part to its content the products, the technology or intellectual property described herein.

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