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)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • vincentcheng_hk216@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Vincent Cheng <v-cheng-12@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 09:35:33 -0600
Subject: PRIVATE AND IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MR. CHENG TO YOU PLS READ



Mr. Vincent Cheng Hongkong Bank (HSBC) vincentcheng_hk216@yahoo.com.hk
Dear Friend Thank you for giving me your time. Please be patient and read my e-mail to you.
I am Mr. Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen, GBS, JP Chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. I have an obscured business suggestion for you, I am contacting you concerning an investment placed under our banks management 4 years ago. Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client customer Gen.Aadeel Agaal Bastaan, who was with the Iraqi forces and also businessman made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty one million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several notices was sent to him, even during the war, which began in 2003. Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response came from him. We later find out that the General along with his wife and only daughter had been killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home. After further investigation it was discovered that Gen.Aadeel Agaal Bastaan did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So, Twenty one million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still lying in my bank, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Gen.Aadeel Agaal Bastaan so that you will be able to receive his funds.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE:I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall come out successful. I have an attorney that will prepare the necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen.Aadeel Agaal Bastaan, all that is required from you at this stage is for you to state your willingness and trust to help me with this so that the attorney can commence his job. After you have stated this, the attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for the move of the funds to an account that will be provided by you this will be done after you must have filled the form from the attorney stating your seriousness to conclude this for me without any problems.There is no risk involved at all in this matter, as we are going adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you.
Please if you find no interest in this project that you should discard this e-mail. I ask that you do not be vindictive or destructive. If my offer is of no appeal to you, delete this message and forget I ever contacted you and also if you know you are not a God fearing person just forget about this because I really need someone i can trust and also I wish to inform you that should you contact me via official channels; I will deny knowing you and about this project. I repeat, I do not want you contacting me through my phone lines nor do I want you contacting me through my 3official e-mail account. Contact me only through this e-mail address: vincentcheng_hk216@yahoo.com.hk and also if there be a need for me to call I will do the callings. I do not want any direct link between you and me. My official lines are not secure lines as they are periodically monitored to assess our level of customer care in line with our Total Quality Management Policy. Please observe this instruction religiously.
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated. Sincerely, Mr Vincent Cheng.

_________________________________________________________________
PC Magazine’s 2007 editors’ choice for best web mail—award-winning Windows Live Hotmail.
http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HMWL_mini_pcmag_0707

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam