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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: Addo Eric <addoeric59@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2014 13:41:18 -0800
Subject: From Mr.Eric Addo.

Dear Friend,

I want you to read this mail quickly and let me know your opinion or
willingness on this classified information that I will release to you. My
Name is Mr.Eric Addo. The regional branch manager Standard Chartered Bank
Of Ghana, Takoradi Branch. I got your contact information through E-mail
directory. I am 51 years of age and married with 3lovely kids. It may
interest you to hear that I am a man of PEACE and don't want problem, but I
don't know how you will feel about this. But I am telling you that this is
real and you are not going to regret after doing this transaction with me.
I only hope we can assist each other, but If you don't want this business
offer please kindly forget it as I will not contact you again.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us. As
the Regional manager of the bank, it is my duty to send in a financial
report to my head office in the capital city Accra-Ghana at the end of each
year. On the course of last year 2013 business report, I discovered that my
branch in which I am the Manager made three million seven hundred and fifty
thousand united state dollars (US$3,750.000.00) which my head office are
not aware of and they will never be aware of it, Nor must they know that I
am involved in this transaction.

I have since place this fund on what we call SUSPENSE OR ESCROW ACCOUNT
without any beneficiary. As an officer of the bank I can not be directly
connected to this money, that is why am contacting you for us to work so
that you can assist me receive this fund into your bank account for us to
share to our self. After the successful transfer of the fund into your bank
account, you will be entitle to 40% of the total fund while 60% will be for
me. Note there are practically no risk involved, it will be bank to bank
transfer.

All I need from you is to stand claim as the rightful depositor of this
fund who made the deposit with our branch so that my Head office can order
the transfer to your designated bank account. If you accept this offer to
work with me, I will appreciate it very much. As soon as I receive your
kind response, I will give you details on how we can achieve it
successfully. To proceed with me in this transaction, kindly provide me the
below information to enable us proceed immediately.

1) Your full name:
2) Your age:
3) Residential address:
4) Marital status:
5) Your direct telephone/ fax number:
6) A scan copy of Your identification:
7) Your occupation:


Looking forward to a cordial Business relationship with you.

Best Regards,
Mr.Eric Addo.

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