joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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 John Mensah" <mrjohn_mensah@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:00:18 +0100
Subject: URGENT NOW,

Kindly Attend.

I am the Managing Director of FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH (FMH) and the Chairman of the Contract Award Committee (CAC). Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of Trade and Industries,

I solicit your assistance on this transaction, which we are prosecuting under condition of strict confidentiality, on the assumption that you will not disappoint us. We seek your assistance to remit the sum of nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$9.5Million) to your account. This funds emanated from an over-invoice contract executed for my Ministry, remaining this over-inflated sum. However this transfer is expected to be concluded within 7 banking days through the I.C.B Bank of GHANA (I.C.B,B,G) to your bank account. Upon confirmation from you that the funds have been credited into your nominated bank account,

I will come over to your country for the sharing. However your share in this transaction will be 30% of the said funds, 60% for my colleagues and I, while 10% is to offset incidental expenses that we may incure at the process of this transaction. Your prompt reply will be most appreciated.
Thanks and best regards,
Mr John Mensah


Anti-fraud resources: