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:
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr David" <davie_5znn@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: suzanne_145@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:40:37 +0100
Subject: reply urgent

Dear ,
I got your contact from the Ecowas Infomation Center in SENEGAL.
My sources of your contact gave me the courage and
confidence.
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture,
My Name is Mrs. david suzanne I am the Business Manager and Head of
Computing Department of a bank here in dakar,senega; There is
an account opened in this bank in 1997 and since my inception into
office in 2003,nobody has operated on this account. I have the courage to
look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable to handle
this important transaction. In order to transfer out seveen Million
fivehundred Pounds Sterling(£ 7,500,000.00 ) after going through some old files, I
discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently,it will be
forfeited,However,this is why i want to use my position as the head of the
computer department/business manager move out this funds to a trusted
person who can take care of the funds on till iam ready to meet with you.
Though this transaction will cost us some money to finalize,but my
attorney was able to contact a very capable and reliable investor who has
promised to render financial assistance to us through you, if you have a
HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT ACCOUNT, where they will credit all the
money we may need to complete the transfer of this funds .
If you do, you will be required to respond to this message urgently to
enable us forge ahead. You will be entitled to 30% of the total sum
while 65% will be for me and my attorney who will process all the legal
documentations in your favoured name as the rightful beneficiary of the
outstanding funds, I will forward more information to you upon your
urgent response, and please be rest assured that this transaction is 100%
risk free, hence this attorney is involved and he is to legalise all
the proof of ownership papers in your name. and 5% will be for the
expenses that will be made by the both party.
I will forward more information to you upon your urgent response.
Also you are expected to forward me your direct phone and fax
numbers were you can be reached at all time and to enable us fax you all
the approval documents for your own records.

Thanks Sincerely,

MRS . David suzanne

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam