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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348065250992 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • f_james0001@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: frank james <f_james0001@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: f_james0002@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 06:26:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM FRANK JAMES


DEAR SIR ,

I am sorry for the embarrassment this mail might cause you,as we have not met before. I am Barrister FRANK JAMES. a solicitor at law, I am the personal attorney to an (Engineer) who work with Mobil oil Nigeria plc. Herein after shall be referred to as my client.
On the 11th of JUNE 2004, my client, his wife and their children were involved in a car accident along Kano - Sokoto express Road while arriving from Easter Holiday to Warri Delta State. All occupant of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives, since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has been unsuccessful.

I came across your name and contact, while I was searching for my clients relations, since my search did not yield the desired result, I had to contact you for this project.I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and properties left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance house where these funds were deposited.

Particularly, the finance house where the deceased has an account valued US$18.4Million Dollars, last year issued me a 12 months notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the fund consignment confiscated, and this ultimatum expires by next month.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceed of this deposit valued at US$18. 4 Million Dollars can be released to you and
then you and I can share the money, 50% for me 45% for you, and the remaining 5% will be for expenses and tax.

Furthermore, he made the money in one of the Oil deals he had with our Oil Minister. Also is the family picture of Engr.Christine Pickard This is just to proof to you that my proposal is genuine. I will also procure all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require from is your honest co-operation to enable us see this business through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.I believe that it is (GOD) who join us together for this transaction, and I also pray for (GOD) to give us the spirit of been honest to ourselves by the successful end of this transaction.

I wait for your urgent response. Feel free to write me via mail and call me on my direct line 234-806-525-0992
Email:f_james0001@yahoo.com only.

Sincerely yours,
FRANK JAMES.



---------------------------------
Building a website is a piece of cake.
Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam