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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
• 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.
  • smith_ad29@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Kate Boston <info_discover_oil@discover-web.com>
Reply-To: smith_ad29@excite.com
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 05:51:17 +0100
Subject: INQUIRY!!!


Dear Sir/Madam,
It is my pleasure to write to you in respect of our organisation DISCOVER
OIL PLC.We are into export of crude oil, natural gas and sales oother
raw materials.We export into Canada/America,Europe and some parts of
Asia.
We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium
of getting our funds from our costumers in Canada/America/Europe as
well as making payments through these representatives to us.
Please if you are interested in transacting business in view of helping us,so

that our clients could make payment to you being our representative, we will
be very glad. Compensations will be given and other benefits. Contact
us for more information, If this proposal is acceptable to you,
forward to us this information;
CONTACT ADDRESS;
FULL NAME;
PHONE AND FAX NUMBER;
AGE AND OCCUPATION;
Please get back to us, so that a remuneration can be worked out for
your services as our representative in Canada/America/Europe as your
location shall determine. For futher informations and enquiries,contact
Mr Adams Smith(smith_ad29@excite.com).
We anticipate your earliest response in this regard.
Thanks In advance.
Mrs Kate Boston
Human Resource Manager
Discover oil plc

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam