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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: "From Mr. Paul Sankoh" <alexanderthambox@gmail.com>
Reply-To: paul_sankoh@safrica.com
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2022 19:14:43 +0200
Subject: Your Humble Co-operation Needed

Good Day,

I know this letter might beat your imagination as we have no previous
correspondence. My name is Paul Sankoh, the son of Kabba Sankoh, a
Sierra-Leonean businessman and Co-Owner of a Diamond Mining Company.

My dad died a few years ago when the Revolutionary United Front (R.U.F)
rebels attacked our residence in Free-Town, Sierra-Leon. Following the
cease fire agreement which was reached with the help of the United Nations
Peace-Keeping Troops, I used the opportunity to leave the country with a
very important document relating to a cash deposit of $10,600,000 (Ten
Million, Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) deposited under my
name by my late father in a security company here in South Africa.

This money was realized from diamond export. Presently, my mother and I
are seeking asylum in South Africa. I contacted you because of the need to
deal with a person whom my family has no previous personal relationship
with. I got your contact from the online-Internet as transparent and
trust-worthy to engage in business, hence my reason for writing to you to
help my family to claim and transfer the funds to your country for long
term investment.

We have decided to offer you 20% percent of the total fund $10,600,000 for
your involvement and assistance in the claim and transfer of the funds out
of South Africa to your country, Meanwhile the remaining 80% will be for my
investments under your supervision as my business Partner.

I await your prompt response
Best Regards,
Paul Sankoh (On behalf of my Family)
Email: paul_sankoh@safrica.com
Tel: +27 63 282 1092

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