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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (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.
• 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.
  • mikesmith74dr@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mike smith" <mikesmith74dr@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 10:34:03 +0100
Subject: URGENT


*Dear Sir/ Madam ,*
**
*I am Barrister Mike Smith of Du Plessis Associates and the legal adviser
to Engineer Alfaro Sanchez, a national of Panama who was one the C.E.O with
(ANGLO GOLD MINES) Mafikeng Gold Mining/ Exploration Corporation in South
Africa hereinafter shall be referred to as my client. *
**
*On February 21, 2003 my client, his wife and their three children were
involved in a car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives. Since then I have made several personal inquiries from the
embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives which has also
proved unsuccessful. *
**
*After several unsuccessful attempts, I now decided to inform you, hence I
contacted you. I have sent you this letter to assist in repatriating the
money left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by his bank, Amalgamated Bank of South Africa, where the
deceased had an account valued at about US$25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five
Million United States Dollars only) and the bank has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the amount confiscated. Though there are
persons of same nationals here in South Africa but none of them is a direct
relative with the deceased and no one had an idea of this deposit. Since I
have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a period of time,
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so
that the proceed of this amount valued at US$25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five
Million United States Dollars only) can be transferred into your designated
account. *
**
*I shall revalidate and notarize all the necessary legal documents that can
be used to back up any claim that the bank may need, this is a risk free
transaction because the banker who is in charge of account section is
involved. *
**
*I will let you know the benefiting conditions of your help in my next
message when I receive your positive response. I guarantee you this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. *
**
* I need your strong assurance and confidentiality. *
**
*God bless us. *
**
*Best regards, *
**
*BARR.MIKE SMITH*
*Principal Attorney*
*EMAIL :mikesmith74dr@gmail.com *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam