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)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • mensahboateng@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "richad_kofi" <richad_kofi@terra.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:05:30 -0600
Subject: URGENT AND CONFINDENTIAL PLS


Dear Sir/Madam,

I, am Mr. RICHARD KOFI the Director in charge of Auditing and Accounting section of International Commercial Bank here in Accra Ghana . and also Chairman of Investigating and Auditing Department of this Bank. During our Investigation and Auditing in this Bank, I came across a very huge sum of money belonging to one Mr. Gonzalez Cifuentes Erwin Hernan which he submitted to my Bank Management when he was about to deposit this funds. a foreigner, who died on November 1st 1999 in a plane crash Overseas and the fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his family or relation because he did not indicate any next of kin to this account in case of death such as this.

Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself to enable the whole plan and idea be profitable and successful during the time of execution. The said amount is U.S $25m (twenty Five Million United States Dollars).

I will make arrangement with a very good lawyer to help obtain all relevant documents that will evidence you as the next of kin to the deceased Mr. Gonzalez Cifuentes, and I also want to use this medium to tell you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 35% of the total sum as gratification, and 65% will be for me.more over, i will destroyed all evidence records from this Bank Management as soon as this funds is remitted to you in your country,after which i shall quit my job and travel out of Ghana and join you in your country, i will open an investment with my share of this funds through your assistance once i arrived in your country.
In order to removed further doubts from you about the truthfulness of this matter i we send you Attached scan copy International Passport of the late Mr. Gonzalez Cifuentes Erwin Hernan which he submitted to my Bank Management when he was about to deposit this funds.I also send you Attach scan copy of all original Documents of Deposit and last Statement of Account Balance of this late Mr. Gonzalez Cifuentes which he used in depositing this funds in this Bank.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here until you confirm the money in your account. And ask me to come down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when I hear from you.Please you kindly reply me through my private email for security reason;(mensahboateng@gmail.com)

Note;What i want from you now is for you to forward your complete personal detail to me scan copy of your International Passport, your Contact Address,your personal Mobil Phone No. your Bank Account No., your Bank name and your Bank Address and City.This will enable me look for a lawyer to represent you here in Ghana , so that this lawyer can draft the Affidavit Will Certificate from the Ghana High Court of Justice,this Affidavit for Next of Kin from the Ministry of Justice Ghana shall make you the legal beneficiary of this funds.

I expedite your urgent response

Regards

RICHARD KOFI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam