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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (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: "HARRY FREEMAN" <harryfreeman2@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: harryfreeman1@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 17:14:38 +0100
Subject: DEAR HONEST ONE

Dearest One,

I pray that my decision to contact you will be given
genuine approval considering the facts we have not known
each other before; I wish to use this opportunity to
introduce myself to you. I am Mr. Williams Padmore from
Liberia, West Africa. I write to inform you my desire to
invest, and to relocate in your country.

My father was a diamond/gold merchant in my country and
because of the war my father got a school for me during
the crisis in Ghana since am the only son. Unfortunately
my father and my sisters died during the war in Liberia.

Before his death he disclose to my mother the
sumUS$10,000.000.00 he deposited with a Financial firm in
Ghana Name (withheld for security reasons)

Since the death of my father, I have been confronted with
difficulties with my uncles for my father's ASSETS. Due
to their threat, my mother decided to join me in Ghana
since Ghana is the next English speaking country to
complete my education, and due the shock and oppression
from my uncles I lost my mother this year 18/2/2006.

As an orphan I have no choice, considering my age than to
look for your assistance to partner with me to claim and
help to invest this fund for my future, I have no access to
it because it was deposited for onward transfer, but has only the documents of the deposit.

I cannot wait to receive your acceptance response through
this email

May God bless you.
Harry Freeman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam