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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • eze_aku@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Ezeaku " <ezeaku2@rediffmail.com>
Date: 12 Mar 2007 18:26:52 -0000
Subject: Business Proposal.


From the desk of:Eze aku Chambers (Solicitor &amp; Advocate)Suite 8 Falomo Shopping complex, Lagos.Email: eze_aku@yahoo.com
Dear Friend,
I humbly crave your indulgence in sending youthis mail,if the content does not meet with yourpersonal and business ethics, I apologize in advance.I am Barrister Eze aku,(SAN)a solicitor at law.I am the personal attorney to late Mr. David K.,a foreigner, who was a contractor with shell DevelopmentCompany in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred toas my client. On the 21st of April 2003, my client,hiswife and their only daughter were involved in a caraccident along sagamu express road,Lagos.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.My client deposited as family belongings in a CONSIGNMENTthe sum of $7.5Million US dollars in a Security and FinanceCompany here in Nigeria. And since then I have made severalenquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives thishas also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessfulattempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet;to locate any member of his family hence contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money andproperty left behind by my client before they get confiscatedor declared unknown by the Security Company where this hugedeposit were lodged.
The Finance Company where the deceased had deposited thisconsignment has issued me a notice to provide the next ofkin or have the consignment confiscated within the nextthirty official working days. Since I have been unsuccessfulin locating the relatives for over 3 years now I seek yourconsent to present you as the next of kin to the deceasedsince you have the same last name so that the proceeds thisdeposit valued at $7.5Million US dollars (Seven Million FiveHundred Thousand United State Dollars) can be handed over toyou and then you and I can share the money.
I will get all necessary legal documents that can be usedto backup this claim in your name as the beneficiary of thefund. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable ussee this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executedunder a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from anybreach of the law. Kindly get back to me via my email and sendto me your telephone number to enable us discuss further aboutthis transaction.
Reply me here if you are interested: eze_aku@yahoo.com
Best regards,Barrister Eze aku

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam