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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "gat gatubutu" <gatubutu8@msn.com>
Reply-To: gatubutu7@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 13:40:32 +0000
Subject: Kindest Attention:

Kindest Attention:
Dear sir/ma
My name is Mr.Gat Gatubutu I am from Portugal . I have been diagnosed
with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment,
and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to
medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I
never really cared for anyone (not even myself)but my business. Though
I am
very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and
only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for.But
now I
regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just
wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God
gives
me
a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different
way from how I have lived it.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property
and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as few
close friends .I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I
have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to
be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have Distributed
money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Somalia and
Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do
this myself anymore.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in
Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.
Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended
with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one
knows of is the huge cash deposit of Thirty Million United States
Dollars($30,000,000,00) that I have with a Finance Vaulting Unit
Abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it
to charity organizations.

N/B:
Kindly note that 35% of this funds must go to the tsunami victims,60%
to other Charity Organization and 5% for your effort and time.
I cannot talk with you on the phone due to my health situation, as I am
using my Lap Top Computer to communicate with you. You should respond
to (gatubutu7@sanjose.com) if you are interested in carrying out
this assignment on my behalf.

God be with you.

Mr. Gatubutu.

gatubutu7@sanjose.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam