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 us 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Amit Wanchoo" <amitwanchoo121@mail2world.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: amitwanchoo121@gawab.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 23:07:53 +0400
Subject: GOOD MORNING

Sir,

My name is Mr. Amit Wanchoo, a banker here in U. A. E.
I write you this proposal in good faith as a brother,
believing that you will not betray me regarding the
information I am about to reveal to you. In 2002 a Crude
Oil dealer Late Mr. KHALIL AL NASSER, made a (Fixed deposit)
for 60 calendar months, valued at US$17,500,000.00
(Seventeen Million, Five hundred Thousand US Dollars)
with my bank. I was his account officer before I rose to
my present position. The maturity date for this deposit
contract was 20th of August 2005. I have tried my possible
best to locate Mr. KHALIL AL NASSERl to notify him about
this, but all my efforts proved abortive. I later discovered
that Mr. KHALIL AL NASSER, his wife and only daughter were
among the victims of bomb blast during the war in Iraq.
Unfortunately, he has no other living relatives to inherit
this fund.


Now, a new Financial Law, which takes effect in two month’s
time, stipulates that any bank account more than $5,000,000.00
[Five Million US Dollars] will be investigated and the bank
shall produce the account owner for clearance. This is a
Government measure to check money laundering. If I do not find
a way to move this money out of the country immediately, in two
month’s time, it might be reverted to Government treasury
because the bank management cannot provide Mr. KHALIL AL NASSER
since he is now late. I am seeking your co-operation to present
you as the next of kin to the account, so that my bank head
quarters will release the funds to you as his next of kin.
There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of law. Let me know how much percent you will take, so
that both parties will be satisfied. Contact me as soon as you
receive this message for further details.

Please, treat as top secret; I am the only person having this
information.

Regards,


Amit Wanchoo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam