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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: "Matthews Ola" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <olamatt11@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:36:23 -0400
Subject: attn:confidential

Hello,

This mail might come as a surprise to you as you do not know who i am i apologise
for intruding into your private life but the situation i find myself has
compelled me to act through this medium.i got your email address after a
search on the internet using Google.
My name is Ola Matthews a partner/Member with AGRIC-PRO GH LTD, We are
contractors with the {GHANA COCOA BOARD ]. Besides being a contractor, my
companyis also involved with exportation of Cocoa and also known with branches in
some strategic locations in my country.

Through a contact of mine With the Cocoa Board ,I executed a contract
here in Ghana two years ago which amounted to the sum of USD 9.5
Million, which was paid in my account with an investment company here in
Ghana.Due to the last problem with the Cocoa Smugglers who were caught smuggling
cocoa with my connections through Ivory coast- Ghana borders for sale to Cocoa
Merchants, I am being probed by my company {Agric-PRO GH LTD } for issues of
funds and illegal business transaction, and in order to move from the prying eyes
of my co-partners .i now need a foreign company/partner to help me in the transfer
of these funds.It is my belief that some of my partners who are aware of this
funds are doing all they can to divert this funds to their own accounts if the
probing panel finds me guilty .

The company is aware of the USD3.5M of the first contract payment{part
payment}Which is the only one accounted for.The CEO of the Investment Company who
happens to be a friend of mine is willing to help me release the balance sum of six
million($6,000,000.00) USD to any offshore account provided by me before the
end of this month . I will be willing to invest this amount into your project
and become a partner Additionally ,I am willing to part with 20% of the 6
million USD to your company if and only you will assist me in transferring this sum
into your designated account offshore.

The necessary papers regarding the contract and the letter of offer will be
faxed or emailed to you and in return would also require your acceptance
letter before we can go ahead with this project.

REMEMBER THAT THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES ABSOLUTE SECRECY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
FOR A SMOOTH COMPLETION THIS TRANSACTION IS REAL AND NOT ANOTHER SPAM OR SCAM
LETTER ON THE INTERNET.

I look forward to your response.

Regards.
Ola Matthews.

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