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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million 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)
  • "abidjan" (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.
  • charles_danielssmith56@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Charles D. Smith" <charlesdaniels_smIth63@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: charles_danielssmith56@rediffmail.com
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:29:37 +0400
Subject: I RAEALLY NEED YOUR HELP IN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

From Mr. Charles D. Smith
Secretary, Commissioner
For works,IVORY COAST,
ABIDJAN.
charles_danielssmith56@rediffmail.com <mailto:charles_danielssmith56@rediffmail.com>
Dear Friend,
Compliment of the day, I am Mr. Charles Daniels Smith the secretary to the
Commissioner for woks here in IVORY COAST,ABIDJAN., I write to seek
Your assistance in my desire to invest US $36Million (Thirty-six Million United States dollars) in a confidential manner into r
eal Estate in your country or any other lucrative business with low risk according to your advice.
I secured this fund through the advantage of my position in the government and I deposited the fund into a security company for safe keeping in abroad before the government placed a new embargo on we serving official from private trips abroad and also restricting us from sending out money abroad.
The vital issue at the moment is for you to assist me clear the consignment from the vaults of the security company on my behalf and use the fund to commence for the investment purpose.
I am getting old and due for retirement at any moment from now after
Putting so many years in civil service and I want this project to
Commence in near future to secure the betterment of my retirement
Future, kindly reply with my email above .
Thank You.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Charles D. Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam