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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: philip chester <dr.chesterphlip@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: phlip2008@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:15:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Sir, i am writing you from my private mail


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: dr.chesterphlip@yahoo.com



- Dear Sir, i am writing you from my private mail lam Dr.Philip Chester, a Manager with International commercial Bank ICB here in Accra Ghana , I am also a former accountent trustee to one of our Late customer,an American Business Man (MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK) I have urgent and very confidential business Proposes for you.I got your contact from the Ghana Business/Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In January 2005, an American Business man(MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK) made a numbered-time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months valued at US$7,000, 000.00 (Seven Million United State Dollars) in a Domiciliary Account in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification of Account Status to his forwarding address but got no reply,After Three months we sent a reminder of same letter and finally we discovered from his contract employees his Company's branch in Accra Ghana,that MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK died in an auto car crash along an express way here in TEMA High MOTOR WAY which!
involves all his entire loving children with his wife,May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. After further investigation, I found out that he leave a will and all attempts to trace his Next-of-kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK Leave a will in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit Papers. This sum of US$7,000,000.00 is still floating in our Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal amount and our banking law here situplate that at the end of 5years. if No one would come forward to claim the money it will declare unclaim and retune to the government, note again that According to our Ghana Banking Law, at the expiration of 5 (Five ) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequent upon the above, my proposal is that I would like you as a foreigner to stand in as the Next-of-kin to the Late MR.JOHNSON!
-HEINZ CREEK.I will quickly work out the full documentation and transf
er the US$7m into your nominated account anywhere.You would be fully rewarded when the money has been transferd to any of your nominated bank account of your choice. Send me your reply to thisrequest by my email address and I shall give you more details promptly. Best Regards, Dr Philip Chester


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