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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million us dollars" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +27728982133 (South Africa, 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.
  • ch_edw@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Christian" <christianedw@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dokobestuur@yahoogroups.com
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 04:39:06 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [dokobestuur] Enquiry



Christian Edward
Tel: +27-728-982-133
Email: ch_edw@excite.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

How are you today? I hope all is well with you. I do understand the concern this letter will bring to you for the fact that it comes from someone strange to you. But be rest assured for it come with good intentions.

I am Mr. Christian Edward, A citizen of Zimbabwe living in South Africa as a refugee with my mother Mrs. Edward, I inherited the sum of $12 (Twelve million US dollars) from my late father which he deposited in a private security company here in South Africa,

l found you interesting as a partner who l can trust to help me transfer this money out of South Africa. l am living as a refugee, l cannot transfer this money by myself. Please do contact me on this email address (ch_edw@excite.com) or telephone +27-728-982-133, if you can assist me.

l and my mother are willing to give you some commission for your assistance, As a refugee here l cannot do any kind of banker activates, l have a bank manger who is very good friend of my late father who will guard us on how to transfer this money, he advised me to get an foreign partner to help since l cannot do it by myself.

Do not be surprise l am send you this kind of mail because it come with good intentions, I will tell you more about this transaction when l hear from you. l want you to be honest with me please, do not let me down please.

l am waiting for your responses

Regards
Christian

_______________________________________________
Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com
The most personalized portal on the Web!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam