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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MR. EDWARD MENSAH" <edward_mensah@latinmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 11:56:26 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS

International Commercial Bank Limited Makola Shopping
Mall Accra Ghana, West Africa.
Tel: +233-28-310184, Fax:+233-21-413761
Our Ref:ICB/MO-XXL08/2004 From:Accountant International Commercial BankGhana First Light
Branch Accra Ghana.

Sir,

I got your contactduring my search on the Internet. My name is Mr. Edward Mensah. I amAccountant of the
International Commercial Bank Ghana, First LightBranch Accra.

I am a Ghanaian married with two kids. I am writing tosolicit your assistance in the noble transfer of US$3.8,000.000 (threemillion, eight
hundred thousand U.S. dollars).

This fund is the excess ofwhat my branch in which I am Accountant made as profit during the lastyear. I have
already submitted an approved end of the last year reportfor the year 2003 and also submitted report of first quarter of this year 2004 to my
Head Office here in Accra and they will never know of this Excess.

I have since then, placed this amount ofUS$3.8,000.000(three million,
eight hundred thousand U.S. dollars) on a SUSPENCEACCOUNT without a
beneficiary. As an officer of the bank, I cannot bedirectly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for yourassistance to
receive this money into your bank account. I intend topart 30% of this
fund to you while 70% shall be for me.

I do need tostress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It is goingto be a bank-to-bank
transfer to your nominated bank account any where you feel safer. All I
need from you is to stand as the originaldepositor of this fund.

If you accept this offer, I will appreciateyour timely response.

With regards,

Edward Mensah.

Note: Youalso contact me on me e-mail address (edwardmensah_icbl@zwallet.com or
edwardmensah_icbl@hotmail.com)


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