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:
  • "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)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (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.
  • john2111@zwallet.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr James Oliaku" <jamesoliaku04@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 21:00:27 +0000
Subject: Mr John Ekene

Please permit my unsolicited mail. it is in my quest for reliable business
associate. After thorough analysis I felt that it would not be a bad idea to
contact your company.

These days, due to overwhelming events of cyber abuse it is difficult to
find
reliable business partners, the global business network has been grossly
violated that one can rarely find trustworthy businessmen and organizations.
I am Mr. Brian C. Odemba, 54, Lawyer, and a close confidant to late Mr.
Johanson, who had a call deposit of US$14.2Million on Trust with a Finance
company before his demise.

I have searched for his relatives all to no avail, hence I contacted you to
assist in repatriating funds deposited with the bank here in cotonou, Benin
Republic to an account that you will provide.
You will be entitled to 30% of the sum while the balance is for us here. I
am of the expectation you will assist me in investing part of this money out
there. I have been waiting to hear from you after my earlier mail to you in
respect of repatriation of the said funds without any response.

I contacted you in the most desperate situation in that if we do not claim
the money within a specific time period, the money will have to go back to
the state treasury. I will be most pleased if you can assist me in seeing
that we consummate this together.

As a matter of fact, all the necessary documents (paper works) required to
execute this project will be procured observing all tenets of the Law. All I
will need here is your co-operation and assistance to pull this through. An
affidavit will deposed and notarized here in the court confirming, you as
the sole beneficiary of the money in your capacity as the next of kin.

To proceed, I shall request you forward, your address, fax and telephone
number for us to be able to discuss further in respect of this noble
project.

Awaiting your urgent response
Thanks and have a great day.
contact me john2111@zwallet.com
John Ekene (Barr.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam