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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Steve Okocha" <steveokocha121@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: steveokocha2007@sify.com
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 06:56:17 -0900
Subject: FROM OKOCHA

Good Day,

l am Mr. Steve Okocha,Civil Servant. l know this
proposal will come to you as a surprise because we have not met before
either physically or through correspondence. I got your contact from world
database and have no doubt in your ability to handle this proposal
involving huge sum of money.

My father Chief Isama Okocha (Now Late)was the Royal
Head of my community, ELEME (an oil rich town) in Nigeria. My community
produces 5.8% of the total crude oil production in Nigeria and 0.5% of the
Dollar value of each barrel is paid to my father asroyalty by the Federal
Government. My father was also the Chairman of ISAMA Special Oil Trust
Fund. In his position as the Royal head and Chairman of the Oil Trust Fund,
he made some money which he left for me as the only heir to inherit.

The money is Eighteen Million,Five Hundred Thousand US
Dollars(US$18.5). This Money originated from the accumulated royalties
between 1976-1998 . Due to poor banking systemin Nigeria and political
instability as a result of past Military rules(1985-1999) , he deposited
this
Money in a Strong Room/"VAULTS" withan open beneficiary in a security
company pending when he would finish arrangement to transfer it abroad .
He was planning this when he died late last year of Heart Attack.Just before
my father died he called my attention to the money and charged me to look
for a foreignerwho would assist me in the transfer/investment of the funds
abroad. So lwould be very grateful if you could accept to help me achieve
this great objective.

I promise to give you 15% of the total funds transferredto your vital bank
account as compensation for your assistance. Five percent(5%)has been set
aside to take care of all expenses we may incureduring
the transaction. To indicate your interest, contact me urgently
andconfidentially for more information and the roles you will play in this
business.

All the legal Documents concerning this Money will be
sentto you as soon as we agreed together. Please I will appreciate that you
sendyour telephone/fax numbers to enable me contact you immediately for
discussions.

MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU.

Best regards,
Mr.Steve Okocha.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam