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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "williams mensah" <williamsmensah112@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: williams_mensah1@walla.com
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 06:12:04 -0600
Subject: PLEASE KINDLY ASSIST ME

INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA, HIGH STREET BRANCH, TAKORADI, GHANA.
Dear,
Compliment of the season.I got to know of you in search for a reputable and
reliable person to assist me in an urgent need requiring utmost trust and, I
do foresee the surprise this letter may bring to you as it comes from
unknown person, but be rest assured as it comes with best of intention. And
I repose my confidence and faith in meeting you for assistance. Thus, my
humble intentionsolicit for your understanding and co-operation in this
transaction as it will be beneficial to all of us involved.
MY NAME IS WILLIAMS MENSAH, I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA LTD,OF DAKAR BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF
TAKORADI.
I WRITES YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH, I AM 42 YEARS OLD AND MARRIED WITH
TWO KIDS . I PACKAGED THIS FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND
I,AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA LTD. IT
IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL
CITY ACCRA AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR, ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR
BUSINESS
REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE THREE
MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS, ($2.5000.USD)TOW MILLION FIVE HUNDERED
THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT
AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF. I HAVE PLACED THIS FUND ON WHAT WE CALL
ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BAaNK I CANNOT BE
DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY, SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST
ME TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 20% OF THE TOTAL FUND
AS COMMISSION. THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO
BANK TRANSFER, ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR WHO
MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE
TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT. IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I
WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND YOU CAN REACH ME ON MY EMAIL AS APPEARED ON
THIS MAIL IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE
DETAILS. IF YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH ME .
THANKS,
I AWAIT YOUR QUICK RESPONSE.
PLEASE REPLY AT williams_mensah1@walla.com
Williams Mensah


Anti-fraud resources: