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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • robert_kuku01@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MR ROBERT KUKU" <robert_kuku03@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 06:03:16 +0100
Subject: Trusting to hear from you

>From The Desk Of MR ROBERT KUKU
Bill and Exchange Manager
INERNATIONAL BANK OF AFRICA
Cotonou,Republic Of Benin.
Email:robert_kuku01@hotmail.com.

Dear Friend ,

I am MR ROBERT KUKU, I work with the INERNATIONAL BANK OF AFRICA(IBA) in
Cotonou Benin republic. It is my wish to solicite your assistance in a
business transaction that will be of benefit to you and I.

During our investigation and auditing in the bank, my department came across
a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased customer of the bank HAJI
EL JAMAL ZOUE, a citizen of Lebanon who died on the recent plane crash in
Cotonou Benin republic on the 26th of Dec. 2003.

VIEW THIS WEB
SITE.http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html

Although personally, I kept this information secret within myself to
enablethe whole plans and idea be profitable and successful during the time
of execution.The said amount was USD$18.5m( Eighteen million Five hundred
thousand united states dollars). As it may intrest you to know.

I got your contact through my country chamber of commerce and international
relations here in Cotonou Benin Rep.

My dear friend i believe you will be able and capable to champion a
business of such magnitude without any problem. Meanwhile all the whole
arrangement to put claim over this fund as the bonafide next of kin to the
deceased, get the required approval and transfer this money to your account
if you indicate your intrest has been made by me.

In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this
country as a banker,we are not allowed to operate a foreign account and
would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of transfer
because I work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin to the bank and also present a
foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transfered into on his
request as it may be after due verification and clarification by bank
officails.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free.On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the
total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer while the remaining
60% will be for me and my family.

Please,you have been advised to keep business as a secret between you and i
for i am still in service and intend to retire from service after i conclude
this deal with you.

As soon as you confirm to me your willingness to assit me in this bussiness
i will send to you the deceased bank account informations and Application
which you will apply to the bank for inward transfer of this fund to your
account.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment,either in your country or any other country you may
advice us to invest in.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email the text of
the application. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this
transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear
as all required arrangements have been made for the transfer .

As soon as you receive this letter.Trusting to hear from you
immediately on my Alternative email/robert_kuku01@hotmail.com.
Awaiting you urgent reply.

Thanks and best regards.
Yours faithfully,
Mr ROBERT KUKU(Bill and Exchange Manager IBA)

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam