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:
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993686079 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: FINANCIAL TRUST BANK PLC BENIN <f_trust_bb@yahoo.dk>
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:07:13 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: URGENT TO FINANCIAL BANK PLC


TO FINANCIAL BANK PLC


ATTN:Ilse Naust,

WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR REPLY IN RESPECT OF YOUR BANK DRAFT THAT WAS DEPOSITED HERE IN OUR BANK.

THE TRANSFERING CHARGES HAS BEEN PAID BUT YOU ARE STILL TO PAY US THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE. HOWEVER, YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEND US YOUR INFORMATION . AND ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HOW TO TRANSFER YOUR BANK DRAFT HAS BEEN NOTED.

MEANWHILE, WE WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU OUT RIGHTLY THAT OUR KEEPING FEES IS $95.00 ONLY, SO YOU HAVE MAKE THE PAYMENT TODAY AS WE HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR TRANSFERING ADDRESS AS I STATED ABOVE INCLUDING YOUR PHONE NUMBER, THEN SEND THE WESTERN UNION EVIDENCE PAYMENT.

THE NAME BELOW IS THE NAME OF THE PROTOCOL MANAGER THAT YOU WILL USE TO MAKE THE PAYMENT, THROUGH WESTERN UNION, I BELEIVE IT WILL BE FASTER AND CHEAPER FOR YOU.

NAME === EZEBUILO PETER O.

ADDRESS === RUE 854 CHIVIA ABEME,

CITY === COTONUO,

COUNTRY === BENIN REPUBLIC.

TEST QUESTION === WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND?

ANSWER === JESUS.

WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO SEND US THE WESTERN UNION EVIDENCE OF THE PAYMENT, SUCH AS THE MTCN NUMBER AND SENDERS NAME FOR EASY PICKING PLEASE. AND IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE FEE TRY TO CALL US SO THAT WE WILL LET YOU KNOW IMMEDIATELY WE PICK IT OK. WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR CALL IMMEDIATELY YOU MAKE THE PAYMENT.

YOURS FAITHFULLY.

DR. JAMES AFAMU.
DIRECTOR GENERAL
+229-93-686-079.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam