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)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (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: "martingana" <martingana@terra.com.mx>
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:27:43 -0600
Subject: Hearing from you


FROM THE HONOURABLE OFFICE OF THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPT.
CENTRAL BANK NIGERIA
LAGOS NIGERIA

Dear Friend ,

With utmost joy and happiness may I draw your attention. I am Barr. Martins Gana Chairman Committee on foreign debts Verification/Settlement, from Central Bank of Nigeria. It gladdens my heart to seek for your urgent and maximum co operation.
In a move which apparently casts a disquieting pall over the government's current transparency bid. The federal Republic of Nigeria has implemented a law in settlement of foreign debts.
Therefore, during the process of our debts verification/settlement, it was observed from our record, that one of our foreign contractors, who executed a contract worth of USD$15.5m(Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) with NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) with a contract Registration number (NNPC/PED/05/2000) has not yet claimed his fund.
our further investigations reviewed that, he died in auto crash and none
of his relatives nor next of kin was found and all efforts to locate them proved abortive .
May I use this utmost medium to intimate you to claim this fund as the next of kin since you have similar name with this decease and equally from your country
However,all necessary documents that will be needed to transfer this fund to you will be provided . We agree to share it 50% for us and 50% for you .What I need from you is your maximum compliance and cooperation.
If this offer is acceptable by you, kindly reply immediately through this email:
The below information is needed:
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.

We are given deadline to make sure that all approved payments and all debts are paid to the beneficiaries.
Wait for your reply
Thanks for your understanding
Yours Friend,
Martins Gana
Chairman foreign debts Verification/Settlement

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam