joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "STANLEY HALL" <hallstanley1@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 21:20:14 +0000
Subject: FROM STANLEY.

>From The Desk of Mr. Stanley Hall,

Attn: Sir/Madam,

STRICTLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL

This is a proposal in context but actually an appeal soliciting your
unreserved assistance in consummating an urgent transaction requiring
maximum confidence. Though this approach appears desperate, I can assure you
that whatever questions you would need to ask or any other thing you will
need to know regarding this proposal will be adequately answered to give you
a clearer understanding of it, so as to arrive at a successful conclusion.

I am Barr. Stanley Hall, a London based Attorney and Solicitor.

THE PROPOSITION: My late client, An America Mr. Morris Thompson who is an
Oil consultant/ contractor with CPL Petroleum had in a Bank the sum of
GBP10.m in a domiciliary account who died on plane crash of Alaska Airlines
Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000,including his wife and only
daughter leaving nobody to claim the money. He named his wife, as the next
of kin.

Unfortunately, two of them died in aplane crash.He had a closing balance
worth £10,000.000.00 (Ten Million British Pounds Sterling) with a bank in my
country (United Kingdom). Since the tragic incident involving late Morris
Thompson and his family, the bank has waited for close to Five years for a
next of kin as beneficiary with no success.
Valuable efforts have been made by the bank’s management and myself to get
in touch with
any of his Direct or Extended family Members but I personally found out that
he died with his wife and their daughter. The only name of next of kin given
to me by Morris Thompson
unfortunately was with him in the same flight that crashed, and this is
unknown to the bank’s management.


Since it is the Law in Great Britain that at the expiration of Six (6)
years, the funds will be marked unclaimable and reverted to the ownership of
the British Government if nobody applies to claim the fund, I am taking this
advantage in order to better my life and that of my family. I am now seeking
your permission and assistance to have you stand as
next of kin to late Morris Thompson, so that the money is released to you as
the next of kin. All documents and proof to enable you get this fund will be
carefully worked out by me because all are in my custody. You can take time
and verify from the website as shown
herein for confirmation of the crash,

http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list

I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal and
risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest will be for me. The
sharing of the fund between the two of us will be as follows: 30% of the
total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the success of
this transaction. 65% will be for me, and the balance of 5%
for the settlement of all local and foreign expenses incurred in the
course of this Transaction.

Upon the successful completion of this transfer, I will come to meet with
you for disbursements in the ratio stated above, and probably invest my
share in any lucrative Business in your country subject to your kind advice.

As soon as I receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of this message in
Acceptance, I will immediately start up with the process of claim. If this
proposal is acceptable by you, kindly reply me immediately you get this
mail.

I want you to also furnish me with the following information:
1. Your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile numbers.
2. Your full names and address.
3. Your Full Banking Details where the Fund will be transferred to.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation. I shall give you
more details on what we are to do to claim the Fund without any hitch.

Note: This transaction must be kept STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET
because of its nature.

I look forward to receiving your prompt response.

Yours Truly,

Mr. Stanley Hall.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam