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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "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.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22997517634 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • bar.pokuella@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BAR.POKU Elle" <bar.pokuella007@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: bar.pokuella2007@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 18:12:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATTEN URGENT: Rina kleine


BARRISTER POKU ELLA
Counselors At Law
Avocat 04 BP 551, Cotonou,
République du Bénin
Telephone: 00229-97517634
Email: bar.pokuella@yahoo.fr

ATTEN: Rina,

I am Barrister POKU ELLA , the attorney at law to Late Mr.Davids kleine , a national of your country, who was an international business man,living here in Benin Republic West Afric Herein shall be Referred to as my client.

On the 27th of May 2001, my client, His wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident Along Sagbama express-road. All occupants of the vehicle Unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved Unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track His last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his Family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in Repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank here. These huge deposits were lodged particularly, with the " AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK -ADB " An affiliate of Commercial Bank of Africa where the Deceased had an account valued at about $18.5 million dollars.

The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in Locating the relatives for over 6 years now. I seek your 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 $18.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can Share the money.60% to me and 40% to you. All the vital informations relating to this transaction will be giving to you when i recieve your positive response. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing that this Deal gets through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

I will need the following informations from you,
Your Full Name and Address................................
Your Age.................................................
Occupation and position..................................
Your Telephone /fax numbers for easier communications

PLEASE THIS IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
For privacy reply to my private
Email account: bar.pokuella@yahoo.fr

I await your reply ASAP.
Best Regards,
Barrister Poku Ella.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam