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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: peter lee <peterlee_law@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 05:19:56 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Expect to hear from the bank


Dear Friend,
How are you and your family today?
Am worried about your sudden absence.
I need you to know that i have made a proposal to the bank to transfer the sum of usd$21.5m to you as the bonafide next of kin to my late client that you have only just returned after a long vacation and now that you are back you want to claim what belongs to you.
I have also gone ahead to swear an affidavit on your behalf to make all legal entries so that there is no breach of law.
I want you to take this transaction very seriously and commited as this fund already belongs to us if we play our parts well.
Expect to hear from the bank and endeavour to forward all informations you get to me for my professional advice.
I am counting on you for the total success of this GOD given transaction.

Thanks so far,
Barr Lee.

N.B: Send to me your full names, occupation and picture so that i shall know with whom am dealing with


---------------------------------
We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love
(and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam