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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • ramagerald@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: gerald@grama.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 19:43:08 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Compliment of the season.


Compliment of the season.
Dear Friend

I am making this contact base on the reliable information's we gathered from the foreign trade office of the chambers of commerce and Industry highlighting you company's profile.The Information is so positive as to convince us that you will be capable to provide us with a solutions to a money transfer transaction.
My Name is Mr. Gerald Rama the chairman of contract award and monitoring committee of the ministry of urban and rural development in Mauritius.My duty as empowered by the Mauritius Government is to provide the basic Amenities,Social and Recreation Activities in urban and rural areas.
This Committee is principally concerned with contracts appraisal and approval in order of priorities as regards capital projects of the Mauritius Government.
Furthermore from these projects we have been able to secure some reasonable amount of twenty million,five hundred thousand US Dollars(US$ 20,500,000.00)as commissions realize from various contractors through deliberate over estimation and invoice of projects awarded by my Committee.
Hence the relevant projects were properly executed to satisfactions and real payments has been made to the contractors,left the remaining amount of US$20.5M,which is now deposited in escrow account with a Finance Company in Europe claiming that the funds belongs to an expatriate and companies.
And we the government projects officials, we are not allowed to operate foreign bank account ,hence we need you to stand as the beneficiary of the funds and claim it on our behalf and also help us to invest it in a profitable business in your country or any country where there is stable government and low tax rate.
Presently, I am now in Europe to search for a reliable person or company of high integrity and dignity,someone with conscience to stand as a beneficiary of the fund.
And when you receive this money into your account, the fund will be shared as follows 30% is for your assistance and effort and 5% of the money is map out for the reimbursement of all the unforeseen expenses that might be incurred during and after the business transaction e.g. transportation, hotels or whatever, while the remaining 65%of the money will be for me and my Colleague for our business investment.
If this proposal Satisfies your interest please respond so that we can discuss about the process.All the necessary documents that will be used to back up this claim will be made available by me and once started will not take more than ten working days to conclude.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. All I require from you, is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.Please Contact me on this email address:ramagerald@aim.com
Best Regards
Mr. Gerald Rama

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam