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:
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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 email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ECO BANK PLC" <eco_bankplc@terra.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 20:58:09 -0600
Subject: Good news,Immediate tranfer of your fund worth $ 3.5 Million.


Good day,
We write to acknowledge the receipt of your mail and the content was duly noted.We Apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the Inconveniences and Inflict that we might have indulge you through. However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which is Inexplicable, and have held us stranded and Indolent, not having the Aspiration to devote our 100% Assiduity in accrediting foreign payments.We are thereby mandated to immediately remit the accrued interest of your US$ 3.5 Million which has been long over due to your desired bank account. I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square whole and can be voguish for that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.

It is important for you to note that we are committed to ensuring the immediate transfer of your accrued interest to your nominated bank account as we have put all machinery in place to accomplish this task. Kindly comply with this directive so as to avert any delay.On this note be further informed that you have been given a grace period of 3 Weeks from today to conclude this transaction,So that we can update our record on your behalf .

Furtherance to this, you are also required and its expedient of you to write us immediately without delay for us to immediately start the process of transferring your funds into your desired bank account.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Alfred Adams,
Head Foreign Operations,
ECO BANK NIG. PLC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam