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:
  • "you will be given 30%" (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "smith" <macsmithx2@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:53:47 +0300
Subject: URGENT REPLY


FROM : MR MAC SMITH
Hello,
Before I introduce myself, I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax
mail and I urge you to treat it serious. We want to transfer to an overseas
account, (20,000.000.00 GBP, Twenty million Great Britain Pounds ) from a prime
Bank here in London.

I want to ask you, if you are not capable, to quietly look for a reliable and
honest person who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank
account or to set up a new Bank a/c immediately to receive this money, even an
empty a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to
me till the end of this important business i am trusting in you and believing in
God that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I am Mr. Mac Smith presently promoted to Auditor General in one of the banks
here in London,during our last auditorial meeting we found out that there is an
account that is lying dormant for so many years and we have investigated on it
and found out that the owner of the account by the name of Mr Thomas Stone From
Columbus, Ohio,who died with his family on a plane crash and since then we
couldn't find any of the relations,he died without living any will that is why
we contactaed you for assistance and at the conclusion of this business, you
will be given 30% of the total amount, 70% will be for us. PLEASE, TREAT THIS
PROPOSAL AS TOP SECRET.

Plc do get back to me if you are interested so that i will give you the other
information that you need to know.
Please view the website - <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm
>
Regards,
Mr MAC SMITH...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ÃÍÕá Úáì ÈÑíÏ ÚÑÈí ãÌÇäí ãÏì ÇáÍíÇÉ ÈÑíÏ ãÑÓæá!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam