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:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "tom poker" <barrister_tompoker@msn.com>
Reply-To: barrister_tompoker7@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 17:02:30 +0000
Subject: ACT FAST

Dearest,

I am Barrister Tom Poker, a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Attorney to
Tony McGee a National of your Country, who has lived in Switzerland for the
past ten years, and whom here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On the 25th of April 2003, my client, his wife And their three children were
involved in a fatal car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately
lost their lives, my client was one of them. Since then I have made several
enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives
this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to contact you. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and properties left behind
by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the
Commercial bank where this huge deposits were lodged.The Commercial bank
where the deceased had an account valued at 6 million dollars has issued me
a notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated within
the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name. The proceeds of this account valued at 6
million dollars can be paid to you, as my clients Next of Kin, and then we
can share the amount on a mutual agreed percentage.All legal documents to
back up your claims as the deceased Next of Kin, will be provided.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in
touch with me to enable us discuss further about this transaction.

Best Regards
Barrister TOM POKER(Esq

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam