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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • johnristo1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Risto" <johnristo@k.ro> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:11:26 +0100
Subject: Business:

Dear Friend,
 
I am making this contact in good faith.I am John Risto,(LLB), principal partner of Kelly's Chambers,London, United Kingdom.l am the personal attorney to Engr.Frank Miller ,an expatriate with a multinational Oil Development Company, who died in an auto crash in South Norwood Highway,London on the 21st of April 1999.

He deposited the sum of Tweaty Million Six Hundred Thousand Pounds in his fixed deposit account with a bank, here in London.All efforts to reach his relatives have proved abortive after his death, following the notification from his bank to present his beneficiary or his account will be declared dormant and unclaimed based on the Bank  policy.
 
This mandate compels me to present any of the family's relatives of my late client to his bank.Since the decease is from your country and also bears same surname with you, l have contacted you to assist in the claim/transfer of this money to you. I will prepare every necessary documentation as proof ,furnish you with adequate information about my late client that will back you up in this claim and l shall provide all legal services to warrant the release of this money to you within 10 working days after l must have filed in for claim in your favour.
 
l am highly delighted and willing to work with you in this matter and will appreciate if you will acknowledge your interest by forwarding your full names, home address telephone and fax numbers to enable me apply to his bank for commencement. A copy of my application letter will be sent to you for your view, update and documentation.You shall be entitled to 45%,
 
Please get in touch with me urgently through my Private email address: ( johnristo1@yahoo.co.uk )

I look forward to your prompt reply.

Thanks.
JOHN RISTO.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam