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:
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "mr collins Donnelly." <collins_donnellyb2k@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2006 11:07:26 +0100
Subject: PERSONAL MAIL FROM MR COLLINS DONNELLY


Dear Partner,

My Name is mr collins donnelly I am the Business Manager and Head
of
Computing Department of a bank here in London, United
kingdom.There is
an account
opened in this bank in 1997 and since my inception into office in
2003,nobody has operated on this account. I have the courage to
look for a
reliable and
honest person who will be capable to handle this important
transaction. In order to transfer out Fifteen Million Pounds
Sterling(£
15,000,000.00 ) after
going through some old files, I discovered that if I do not remit
this
money out urgently,it will be forfeited,However,this is why i want
to
use my position
as the head of the computer department/business manager move out
this
funds to a trusted person who can take care of the funds on till
iam
ready to meet with
you. Though this transaction will cost us some money to
finalize,but my
attorney was able to contact a very capable and reliable investor
who
has promised to
render financial assistance to us through you, if you have a HOME
EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT ACCOUNT, where they will credit all the
money we may
need to complete
the transfer of this funds . If you do, you will be required to
respond
to this message urgently to enable us forge ahead. You will be
entitled to 30% of the total sum while 65% will be for me and my
attorney who
will process all the legal documentations in your favoured name as
the
rightful beneficiary of the outstanding funds, I will forward more
information to you upon your urgent response, and please be rest
assured
that this transaction is 100% risk free, hence this attorney is
involved
and he is to legalise all the proof of ownership papers in your
name.
and 5% will be for the expenses that will be made by the both
party.

I will forward more information to you upon your urgent response.

Also you are expected to forward to me your direct phone and fax
numbers were you can be reached at all time and to enable us fax
you all
the approval documents for your own records.

Thanks Sincerely,

mr collins Donnelly.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam