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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "dr. paul acquah" <dr.paul_bogh20@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: drpaul_bog_gh@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 11:15:14 +0000
Subject: FUND DELIVERY

FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR
BANK OF GHANA (BOG)
REPUBLIC OF GHANA

Dear Sir/Madam,

We have on this 17th day of May, 2007 received a payment credit instruction
from the Government Of Ghana to credit your account with your full contract
funds from the Millennium Challenge Account with our bank. This is to notify
you that your funds has been programmed for immediate release into your
nominated account but we can not transfer this funds direct to your
nominated bank account, because we are having a little problem with
International Monetary Fund (IMF) so our method of payment is by Diplomatic
Courier Service.

Be informed that every arrangement regarding your cash payment through
Diplomatic Services has been made, your funds packaged like a consignment
and the Diplomatic Agency have to move down to your Country in order to
deliver the Consignment to your doorstep. Note also that as soon as the
Diplomat arrives in your Country they will give you a call immediately and
you will help them to get Customs Yellow Tag for the consignment. You have
to help the Diplomat to get the Custom Yellow Tag Paper so that the Customs
will allow them entry at the airport for onward delivery of the Consignment
to you and for security reason you are advice to follow the rules and
regulations of the diplomat for easy collection of the consignment.

Finally, please be aware that the diplomat will leave Accra, Ghana via
London and finally to arrive in your Country which is his last destination
on the diplomatic travel route. I want you to send your direct mobile phone
and your home address to me immediately, so that as soon as the diplomatic
arrives in your country he will call you immediately to notify you.

Cordially yours,

Dr. Paul Acquah
Governor,Bank of Ghana
Accra, Ghana.

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam