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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: "Philip U. Lartey" <plartey7@superposta.com>
Reply-To: phil_udom@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008 13:54:07 +0100
Subject: To err is human (My mother needs urgent medical attention)


*To err is human (My mother needs urgent medical attention)*



Mr. Philip U. Lartey

+233 207957036



Greetings



I write to seek your services in a private and confidential matter regarding
some funds unaccounted for in our bank here in Ghana during the last 2007
business year. As the regional manager of the bank it is my duty to send in
financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of
ach business year. On the course of the last year 2007 business report, I
discovered that my branch made five million eight hundred and fifty thousand
united state dollars ($5,850,000.00) which my head office is not aware of
and will never be aware of.



I deposited this fund in an ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT at our headquarters pending
when I shall get a reliable person. This requires a private arrangement.
Could you perhaps be able to receive these funds under legal claims then I
will fill you in. I will appreciate for fewer questions asked and your
participation will be 30% of the total money.



There are practically no risks involved, the transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law, it will be simply a bank-to-bank transfer. I have all the details and
will fill you in if you are really willing. Your major role would be to
provide an existing account or open a new bank account where the funds will
be transferred and stand as the original depositor of this fund in our bank,
as long as you will remain honest to me till the end for this important
business trusting in you and believing that you will never let me down
either now or in future



At this juncture, I wish to tell you what prompted me to package this deal.
My mother has leukemia, a disease of the blood, and she needs a bone marrow
transplant or she will die. I want this transplanting to be done in any good
hospital in your Country, if there is one. Once this fund is transferred
into your account, I shall resign from my job and bring my family to start a
new life in your country all correspondences will be via email for now.



I would be grateful if you would help me invest my own part of the money in
a very profitable business. I have worked for this bank for the past 15
years yet I have nothing to show for it. I will expect a straight answer
from you. If yes, please get back to me so that we can work out the
modalities without further delay.



With best regards,



Mr. Philip U. Lartey.

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