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 sum 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "davidwhite01" <davidwhite01@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:18:25 +0000
Subject: From DAVID WHITE (Auditor General)


>From DAVID WHITE (Auditor General)

Firstly, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue of it's nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. However, a transaction of this magnitude will certainly make anyone apprehensive and worried.But I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.
I am Auditor General of my bank, I came across your contact in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential business with me. The business involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to yourbank account and this requires maximum confidentiality.
THE PROPOSITION:
We discovered an abandoned sum of Thirty two Million USD in an account that belongs to one of our (German) foreign customers who died along with his wife in a plane crash Involving EGYPT AIR FLIGHT MS990,. Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims for this money as the heir. However, according to the stipulated banking rules and regulations, any account that remains domant for 3 years without any justifyable reasons should be decleared as "Non-Operational" and will be retuned to the
treasury.
Upon this discovery, and since no family member nor relative of the deceased has ever appeared to claim the said fund, I am now seeking your maximun co-operation to have you stand as next of kin to the deceased so that the funds can be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary of the fund otherwise, the fund will be returned to the treasury as unclaimed funds.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message and your acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following;
1. Your name and complete address
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers
The above requirements will enable us to file a letter of claim to the appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the transfer can be made. All documents and proofs to enable you substantiate your claim will be carefully worked out.
I eagerly await your urgent response. My private email is
davidwhite01@walla.com

Your's Faithfully,
David White

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam