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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • mr_mike002@yahoo.pl

Fraud email example:

From: officefile18@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:03:36 +0200
Subject: Appreciating your efforts/Contact My Secretary.


Dear friend ,

Sorry for any inconveniences. Well, I just want to use
this medium to thank you very much for your earlier assistance to help
me in receiving the inheritance funds without any positive outcome. I am
obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with
the help of a new partner from Greece.

Contact my Secretary in
Cotonou De federal Republic of Benin because I have left the whole
instruction to him on your behalf and instruct him where to send the
$1,800,000.00 ( in cheque) without any further delay for your
compensation.

His name is Mr Mlaky. Nwata
Email:
mr_mike002@yahoo.pl

NB:NOTE :BELLOW IS THE REQUIRED INFORMATIONS YOU
WILL SEND TO HIM:

(1) YOUR FULL NAMES
(2) YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS
(3)
YOUR DIRECT CELPHONE NUMBER AND HOUSE PHONE WITH FAX IF ANY .

In the
moment, I\'m very busy because of the investment projects which the new
partner and I are having at hand. So feel free to get in touch with Mr
Mlaky. Nwata to send the cheque to you without any delay.


Regards,
MR. HASSAN KUKURI.


Unbegrenzter Speicher, Top-Spamschutz,
120 SMS und eigene E-MailDomain
inkl.
http://office.freenet.de/dienste/emailoffice/produktuebersicht/power/mail/index.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam