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)
  • "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. )
  • "huge deposit" (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 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)
  • "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 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.
  • mashall_odili@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mashall odili <mashallodili5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mashall_odili@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 10:20:46 +0000
Subject: URGENT AND SECRET PLEASE.



FROM: BARRISTER MASHALL ODILI
E-mail:- mashall_odili@yahoo.co.uk


Dear Friend,

I am BARRISTER Mashall Odili, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Jim Salazar a national of your country, who used to work with shell development company in Nigeria, here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On the 21st of April 2005, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along sagamu express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the UNION BANK PLC where the deceased had an account valued at about USD$7.2 Million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next thirty official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessfully in locating the relatives for over 2 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 proceeds of this account valued at USD$7.2 Million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money 60% for me and 40% for you I have all necessary legal documents that I enquire is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Best regards,
Barrister Mashall Odili.
_________________________________________________________________
Explore the seven wonders of the world
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam