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)
  • "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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Okeke Jeo" <jabura_rain@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:37:23 -1000
Subject: Urgent

FROM ; MR OKEKE JEO
MUTUAL TRUST BANK PLC
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

DEAR FRIEND,

My name is MR OKEKE JEO INTERNAL AUDITOR MUTUAL TRUST BANK PLC. I am
writing in respect of a foreign customer of our bank Mr.JONATHAN GHUNIAM
with account number 14-255-2004/ASTB/123-99 who perished in an
auto-crash in october 15 2003.

Since the demise of this our customer, I personally has watched with
keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no
one has come to claim his funds of US$9..5m (Nine Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars), which has been with our branch for a
very long time.

On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the
next of kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin.
The banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than
four years, because money will be recalled to the bank treasury as
unclaimed after this period. In view of this, I decided to seek through
internet whom to confine in for this transaction. I seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin to the deceased.

So that the proceeds of thisaccount valued at $9.5 million dollars can
be paid to your account for sharing. 65% to me and 30% to you, while 5%
should be for reimbursement of incidental expenses that may be incured
during the transaction or tax as your government may require.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch
free safe legal and for the benefit doubt we are going to engage the
services of an attorney who will position you as the next of kin and the be

neficiary. that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for
fund transfer can be finalized as soon as possible.

kindly reply me through this e-mail address :okekejeo@walla.com
including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers and your address
for quick communication.

Your Friend
MR OKEKE JEO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam