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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "huge amount of money" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: akofa jacob <akofajcb1@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: akofajcb@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2007 15:18:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REF: INVESTMENT RESEARCH


REF: INVESTMENT RESEARCH

COMPLIMENT OF THE MOMENT. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS
LETTER WILL NOT COME TO YOU AS AN EMBARRASSMENT SINCE
WE NEITHER KNEW EACH OTHER BEFORE NOR HAD ANY PREVIOUS
CORRESPONDENCE NOR CONTACT.

I AM DR. JACOB AKOFA, A DIRECTOR GENERAL IN
GOVERNMENT OF GUINEAN PARASTATAL. I HAVE AN INTENTION
OF GOING INTO ESTABLISHMENT AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
IN YOUR COUNTRY.I AM HEREBY SEEKING YOUR SERVICE IN
GIVING ME A CLEAR RESEARCH AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES ON
AREAS I COULD INVEST ON!. YOUR SERVICES WILL BE PAID
FOR OR IF YOU WANT, YOU WILL BE MY PARTNER IN THE
VENTURE.AS A CIVIL SERVANT,I CANNOT OPERATE ANY
PERSONAL INVESTMENT TILL I AM RETIRED AND WITH THE
ANTI-CORRUPTION BILL PASSED IN GUINEA, IT IS RISKY FOR
ANY CIVIL SERVANT TO BANK HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN
GUINEA OR WITHIN THE SHORES OF AFRICA.

IT IS THEN ADVISABLE TO INVEST IN ANY FOREIGN LAND
SECRETLY TILL ONE IS RETIRED. THE MONEY I WANT TO USE
FOR THE INVESTMENT IS DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY COMPANY
IN ACCRA GHANA (WEST AFRICA) WITH DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE
NUMBER NUMBER:RSC/1013452/MOUSD. IF MY PROPOSAL IS
ACCEPTABLE,YOU ARE TO HANDLE EVERYTHING PERSONALLY AS
I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL DOWN,SINCE I MUST OBTAIN
CLEARANCE BEFORE LEAVING GUINEA.

NOTE IMPORTANTLY THAT, THIS IS A CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSAL
AND MUST BE HANDLED CONFIDENTIALLY BECAUSE THE PANEL
SET UP BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROBING ALL
DIRECTORS THAT SERVED IN THE PAST MILITARY
ADMINISTRATION WHETHER RETIRED OR STILL SERVING.
IF MY PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, E-MAIL ME
IMMEDIATELY.

BEST REGARD.
JACOB AKOFA


---------------------------------
Never miss an email again!
Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam