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:
  • "monrovia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • mrjameswillies@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "INFO OFFICE" <info_office30@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 10:30:46 +0000
Subject: URGENT REQUEST!

From: Mr. James Willie Belleh
The Chairman Contract Award Committee
Liberia Interim Cabinet [LIC]

Dear friend,

I am Mr. James Willie Belleh, Contract Award Committee Chairman in the
Liberia Interim Cabinet [LIC] in Monrovia, Liberia. I and my colleagues are
seeking for assistance of a reliable foreigner through whom we can establish
corporate and mutual trust with the sum of US$12,600,000.00 (Twelve
Thousand, Six Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) which arose from the deliberate
over-inflated contract value for the General maintenance of Monrovia City on
behalf of Liberia Interim Government [LIG] 2004.
The contract was awarded in 2004 during the outgoing / Interim President
Gyude BRYANT regime to a foreign firm with the consideration of 10%
commission agreement on the total contract value of US$126,000,000.
The contract has been completed and the contractor has long been paid, we
are now left with this US$12,600,000 representing the 10% (our own share) as
agreed with the contractor. Presently, this fund is with a private security
company in Europe[name withheld]. The Current favorable political/economic
climate in this country now presented an opportunity for this money to be
transferred out of our country.

Our contact in the Federal Ministry of Finance have given us a go ahead
advice to process the release of this fund hence we have set in motion the
machinery for the take off of this transaction and further action will
commence immediately we hear from you. Please note that as soon as the
Federal Ministry of Finance grants approval for the transfer of the money
into your bank account they shall inform your bank and accompany the
transfer with legal documents showing that the money is legal and
legitimately acquired in the Federal Republic of Liberia through the
execution of government contract(s).

We have agreed that after the transfer of the money into your account, you
shall be entitled to 25% of the total amount transferred, while the
remaining 65% will be for me and my colleagues and 10% mapped out for
expenses. We decided to give you his percentage in order to motivate you and
also to let you feel satisfied at the end of this transaction. The nature of
your business or profession is not particularly relevant for the success of
this transaction. All we require is your willingness to co-operate and
assurance that our own share will be given to us when this money is
transferred into your account.
All necessary precautions have been taken to ensure a no risk situation on
the sides of both parties and it is believed that the conclusion of this
transaction will not last more than 14 working days.

Since we have no knowledge of business, our plan is to invest this money
into Real Estate, Stocks and we can also invest in some other profitable
businesses in your country based on your advice because many of our years
have been spent as civil servant, and we may likely resign from government
service to private business after this money is
Transferred into your account.

Please note that this business is strictly confidential and must not be
disclosed to a third party. This is necessary to avoid disclosure that may
jeopardize the transaction.

Finally, if this proposal is acceptable to you, or if you have any
questions, feel free to contact me immediately on my private email address
above. Send your reply with your details like: Your full name and address,
telephone number to: MrJamesWillies@netscape.net

I wait to hear from you soon.

Best regards,
Mr. James Willie Belleh

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam