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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Ofosu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <emmanuel.ofossu@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2017 03:43:02 -0700
Subject: From Emmanuel Ofosu

Hello,
I am Emmanuel Ofosu Head of Foreign Remittance Department Guaranty Trust Bank. I know this message
will sound very strange to you, but I have no doubt than to seek your support for business transaction
which we benefit both of us.
 
Please I need your assistance in respect of claim abandon fund that been in Escrow Account for years in
our bank system.
 
If you are interested to work with me in truth and honest please kindly reply and I will furnish you with full
details about this claim.
 
Regards,
Mr. Emmanuel Ofosu.

Anti-fraud resources: