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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: Afam Mensah <afammensah1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 21:42:41 -0700
Subject: Good Day


Dear friend,

How are you? Let me first introduce myself, I know this will come to you as
a surprise, because you do not know me in person. My name is Afam Mensah,
a British and the Personal Assistance/Adviser to a deceased expatriate and
a consultant with an Australian Oil company (WOODSIDE). I want you to
assist me to receive and invest some money in your company or in any good
business in your country, I ask for your assistance because of its
sensitive nature.


My Boss died as a result of cancer of the Bone Marrow. Six years ago, my
Boss successfully executed a contract that worth's $47.3 Million United
States Dollars. A part payment of $35 Million United States Dollars was
paid to my Boss, while the balance of $12.3 Million United States Dollars
stood unpaid before his death. Recently, his bank sent me a notification
letter informing of the existence of the $12.3 Million United States
Dollars claim when they got no response from my Boss. All my efforts to
locate his possible relative however proved abortive,my search for his
relative even took me to Africa.

He was a Widower,lost his wife 12 years ago and did not remarried, most of
his properties in Africa were being vandalized by hoodlums and some
overgrown by weeds as there is no one to take care of them. The crux of
this email is that by the end of this month the bank will divert all
unclaimed bill to the Government Coffer Account, therefore, following my
inability to locate any of his relatives, I decided to contact you so that
we can work together as a team to remit this funds into your account as my
Boss's “next-of-kin”. I will not be happy to see my Boss’s hard earned
entitlements go into wrong use.

As a lawyer, I assure you that this is achievable.I will immediately source
the relevant documents that will perfect the claim, this deal required
trust, confidential and honesty to enable us see it through. Frankly
speaking, this proposal is with the best of intentions and on successful
end you will take 40% of the total sum while I take 60% as the initiator.
If this is workable, get back to me for clarification on how to proceed
next, remain blessed.

Sincerely yours,

Afam Mensah Esq.

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