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 amount of money" (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)
  • "liberia" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Felicia Kara" <miss.kara0z@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: miss.kara02@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:41:16 +0200
Subject: Please help me out of this.

Hello Dear,
I come to you with due respect and equally with heartful of tears and sorrows since we have not known or met ourselves previously.Please, I mean no harm to you only that I am in a desperate situation and need urgent help. After going through this mail,it will be your decision,whether to help me or to leave me to my faith, but whatever you decide, bear in mind,i am in trouble and need your help. I am asking for your assistance after I have gone through a profile that speaks good of you. I will be so glad if you can allow and lead me to the right channel towards your assistance to my situation.
I am Felicia Kara,the only daughter of Dr Abel Kara .My father died during the last crisis in my country Liberia, West Africa. He was one of the high officers in the leadership of formal president Charles Taylor who is currently on trial now after many innocent souls were killed ,My father was unlucky to be among those that were killed by the rebel.
The reason I am contacting you is to seek for your assistance in the area of my future investment and also for a help hand over some huge amount of money in my possession. This money ( 6.5 Millon Dollars ) was deposited by my father, he made me the sole beneficiary. Please,I am asking you to stand on my behalf to make this claim, and in time of the investment as well. I will make the procedure to this issue to be well known to you if you give me the opportunity to do so.
Pls attach your direct contact information as you reply to me.
Thanks and remein bless,
Felicia.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam