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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: morris.ogiri_attorney@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:41:48 +0200
Subject: Attn:Personal(URGENT REPLY NEEDED)


FROM THE DESK OF:=0D
BARRISTER MORRIS OGIRI=0D
Morrisogiri & ASSOCIATES=0D
GOVERNMENT REGISTERED ATTORNEYS =0D
=0D
Dear SIR =0D
=0D
I am Barrister MORRIS OGIRI, a Lawyer by profession. I am the personal atto=
rney to Mr. Andrew who worked for the Chevron Oil Exploration Company, he=
rein after shall be referred to as my client. My client, his wife and thei=
r three children are victims of the Boeing 727 Beirut-bound charter Jet wh=
ich crashed on takeoff on December 25th 2003, see the below link to read =
more news about the air crash:=0D
=0D
www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/25/benin.crash/ =0D
=0D
Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy to locate any of m=
y clients extended relatives. This has proved unsuccessful.I came to know =
about you through an enquiry I was making in the internet, and came acros=
s your profile hence i contact you, since you share the similar last name w=
ith my late client in order to assist in repatriating the money and proper=
ty left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unservi=
ceable by the bank.=0D
=0D
Particularly, the Finance Company where the deceased had an account valued =
at US$ 18.5 Million Dollars, has issued me a notice to provide the next of=
kin or have the account confisticated within the next 21 official working=
days. Since i have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives I seek you=
r consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have =
the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$18.5 =
Million Dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.=
Also note that I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to b=
ack up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to =
enable us see this business through. I guarantee that this will be executed=
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of th=
e law or any legal plight. =0D
=0D
The money will be shared in the ratio: 50% for me, 45% for you and 5% for a=
ny arising contingencies during the course of this transaction.Please get i=
n touch with me by email and indicate: Your full name,your age,your occupat=
ion, your address, your contact telephone and fax numbers respectively. Upo=
n receipt of these details, i will prepare a Letter of Introduction in your=
favour and send to the Bank where my client had the account for their paym=
ent endorsement and i will as well send you a copy for your view.=0D
=0D
I count on your anticipated co-operation.=0D
=0D
Best regards, =0D
BARRISTER MORRIS OGIRI =0D
Morrisogiri & ASSOCIATES=0D
GOVERNMENT REGISTERED ATTORNEYS=0D
=0D

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam