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:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348028264968 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • barrlawsoneze_01@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lawson eze" <lawsoneze_7@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 11:05:50 +0000
Subject: Dear Leigh

Barr. Lawson Eze Chambers
#16 Akintola William Str.Ikeja
Lagos.
Tel:+234-802-8264968

Attn My Dear Leigh,

I am a lawyer. I am the personal attorney to Late Mr. Kenneth Leigh, a
National of your Country, who used to work as a contractor with Crystal
Construction Company Inc.,herein after shall be referred to as my client.
On the 21st of April 2003, my client, his wife and their three children were
involved in a car accident along Sagamu express road. All occupants of the
vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several
enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives and
this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts
to locate any member of his family, hence I contacted you. I am contacting
you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where this huge deposit were lodged. Particularly, the bank where the
deceased had an account valued above US$10,000,000.00 has issued me a notice
to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated and the funds
returned to
the government.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account
valued above US$10,000,000.00 can be paid to you and then you and I can
share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. I have all the necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require
is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee
that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my email or
call me on
the above telephone and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable
us
discuss further about this transaction. I await your urgent response and
positive attention in this circumstance.Please write back through this email
address(barrlawsoneze_01@yahoo.com)

Best regards,
Barrister Lawson Eze, LLB, LLM, BL,SAN
Attorney at Law

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam