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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "top of the day to you" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
• 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.
  • pastormarkwilliams4christ@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Pastor Mark Williams <mark4christ007@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 10:07:45 +0200
Subject: JOB OFFER AMERICAN / CANADIAN REPRESENTATIVES NEEDED 10% COMMISSION



Dear Sir/Madam, Top of the day to you.

I represent WILLIAMS Import and Export Company based in South Africa. My company exports cocoa and other goods/services for world trade. We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers in America and canada as well as making payments through you as our payment officer. Most of our customer pay out in cheques and we do not have an account in your country that will clear this money. It is upon this note that we seek your assistance to stand as our representative in your country. Note that, as our representative, you will receive 10% of whatever amount you clear for the company and the balance will be paid into the account we shall send to you.Please, if you are interested in this business transaction, forward to us at my email address pastormarkwilliams4christ@yahoo.com
Please contact us for more information via email with the below informations filled out. NAME.................................. MAILING ADDRESS....................... AGE:.................................. STATUS:............................... STATE/COUNTRY......................... TEL/FAX NUMBERS....................... COMPANY NAME.......................... OCCUPATION............................... We look forward in working with you. C.E.OPastor Mark WilliamsWilliams Import/Export co.2nd Floor5 Commissioner Street
CBD JOHANESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
MOBILE:27-73- 244-4249
FAX: 27 11 642 0183 NB:Ignore this mail if you are not interested in the offer or you cannot handle large sums of money. Thank you
_________________________________________________________________
Explore the seven wonders of the world
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam