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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • samelsank2002@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Diala <godblessdiala4@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2007 10:10:52 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,



Dear Friend,

Longest time,i hope all is well together with your family,if so glory be to God almighty.I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transfered with the cooperation of a new partner from paraguay.
We were paid from african development bank in cotonou benin republic.Presently i'm in Paraguay for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile,i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring this funds despite we! could not conclude it.I have decided to compensate you.

Contact my account officer in African Development Bank in Cotonou,Benin Republic,his name is Mr Samuel sankoh on his e-mail address (samelsank2002@yahoo.fr) I have raised a certifiecd bank cheque in your name to the tune of Four hundred and fifty thousand united states dollars for you.

Feel free and get in touched with my account office Mr samuel sankoh and instruct him on where to send the cheque to you at your own expense as i have done enough by allocating such amount to you.Even my current partner is not happy that i have to allocate such amount to you bearing in mind your nonchalant attitude to the transaction at its crucial stage.

I am very busy here because of the investment projects which I and the new partner are handling, So feel free to get in touch with Mr samuel sankoh .he will inform me immidiately he has oblidged! you the fund.

Best Regards,
Mr.Diala Martins
_________________________________________________________________
Play free games, earn tickets, get cool prizes! Join Live Search Club. 
http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_wlmailtextlink

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam