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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Lingi McCarthy" <lcarthy@mighty.co.za> (may be fake)
Reply-To: lcarthy@web-mail.com.ar
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 09:28:52 -0700
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

Dear Sir,

I will advise that you read thoroughly and carefully, through this mail.
This transaction is highly confidential and 100% risk free. It should be strictly
between you and me.I am a director in the department of Minerals and Mining
here in South Africa formerly mandated to head the committee that looked
into failed, uncompleted and over-invoiced contracts in my Department.
During the course of investigation it was found that the sum of US$ 14.5m
[Fourteen million five hundred thousand US Dollar] was issued for an over
invoiced
contract but this said money is in the Federal Reserve Bank suspense account.
Owing to the policy in the country as against public servants operating foreign
account and also to have that kind of huge amount in our local accounts,
I am soliciting for an individual to transfer this money into his foreign account
for personal investment purpose.
Note clearly that this transaction has been well planned. I have followed all the
required official contract award/ payment procedures, and all documents to
facilitate the smooth conclusion of this transaction are legitimate and officially
in order. There is no problem, this contract is LEGAL. THIS TRANSACTION IS
A BUSINESS DEAL BETWEEN YOU AND I, BUT IT IS LEGITIMATE AND
GENUINE TO THE AUTHORITIES. I want to assure you that you have nothing
to fear about, your main priority should be to give us your total co-operation,
and follow my advice /instruction. You should consider this transaction as
already successful & concluded.
What is required is for us to have you registered as a foreign contractor with
my Department as a contractor,for this I would require you to provide me with
your company name,address and phone with fax number for the registration,
it is after this has been done that I will make you the sole beneficiary of the
fund and submit for payment processing to your nominated account to the
relevant ministry.
Consider this transaction as successful and completed for I have taken care
of all modalities and official procedures involved legitimately and as required.
Note clearly that as top Government officials in South Africa, occupying very
sensitive top Government position we receive little salaries compared to our
positions. Once more I want you to understand that this transaction is
100% risk free.
We will discuss the percentage to be given to you
before we proceed. Thanks in anticipation of you support.
sincerely,
Dr.Lingi McCarthy

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam