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:
  • "million british pounds" (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: "bob richards" <mrbobrichards8@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 01:31:03 -0700
Subject: Treat Urgently


Dear,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics.I introduce myself as Richard a staff in the accounts management
Section of a well-known bank here in the United Kingdom.

One of our accounts in our affiliate bank with holding balance of
£15,000,000(Fifteen Million British Pounds) has been dormant and last
operated in the past 5 years.From my investigations and confirmations, the
owner of this account is a Foreigner by name Gerald Stone died on the 4th of
January 2002 on a planecrash in Birmingham here in UK.

Since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money as
he has no family Member who is aware of the existence of either the account
nor the Funds.Information from the National Immigration also states that he
was single on entry into the UK.

I have confidentially discussed this issue with some of the bank officials
and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus
propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of the
deceased and have the funds released to you after due processes have been
followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is
Legitimateand does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any
otherIllegal act.
On your interest, let me hear from you.

Regards,
Richard

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam