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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • imehlewis@o2.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Imeh Lewis <imehlewis1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <imehlewis@o2.pl>
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 22:10:09 -0400
Subject: HELLO...



MR Imeh Lewis.HEAD ACCOUNTS AND CLEARING UNIT,PRIME TRUST BANK PLC,LAGOS-NIGERIA.Reply to : imehlewis@o2.pl Dear Friend, Please permit me to introduce myself,I am the HEAD OF ACCOUNTS AND CLEARING UNIT OF PRIME TRUST BANK plc. In december 2001 , one of our esteemed customers, MR. CHAVEZ BASSFORD, died in Lagos,Nigeria. Before the death of MR. CHAVEZ BASSFORD, he was an influential fishing Magnate,who also owned the BASSFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY here in nigeria. His company has both current and savings accounts with my Bank,Which i was his account officer.At the time of his death, he had $16.4Million in both accounts. When our Bank was notified of his death, we made efforts to contact his immediate next of kin through his embassy in Victoria Island, Lagos.The embassy later wrote to us ,informing us that all attempt on their part to contact any of his relatives was not successful.It was at this point,that we contacted the government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Finance, informing them about this problem. The government wrote to us back,directing our Bank to place LATE MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD's funds in a suspense account pending when any of his relatives shows up to claim the money. However, we received instructions from the Nigerian Government instructing my bank to disburse this fund to the next of kin to MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD once any member of his family shows up. It was as a result of these directives from my government that i have contacted you to stand as the next of kin to MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD, What i want to do, as the account officer to late BASSFORD ,is to present you or your company as the next of kin to MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD which will entitle you to receive this money on his behalf for me and you, after we might have done the processes documentation involved and with my position here,this will not be a problem for me to handle.It will not be difficult for me to establish the relationship between you and the late BASSFORD. You could be a distant relative to him,or his uncle, Aunty from his mother's side. As soon as you confirm your willingness to assist me, you shall be provided with all information relating to the Late MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD , as contained in our file. You do not have to worry about this proposal, as i am directly involved and as the account officer to the late MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD,the transfer will be carried out as soon as i hear from you and if you can assure me that you will not by any means run away with the money when transfered to your country before i come over to you. When we have successfully remitted the fund into your account, you shallassist me invest my share into any profitable business in your country for 2 years. After the successful completion of this transaction,your share of the money will be 40% ,50% will be for me ,10% will go to any registered charity organization such as the motherless babies home,in your country,please let me know if this sharing pattern is fine with you,so that at the end,we shall be happy after sharing. should you be willing to assist in this matter, kindly get back to me on the above email address,stating your telephone numbers along with any question you may need to ask about this transaction, i want to assure you of a hitch free transaction,as your involvement will not expose you to any risk now or after the successful completion of the transaction,as i will be involved as an insider as well and will handle the process correctly. I thank you once more,please note that this should be kept secret between you and me, while i look forward to your urgent response to this letter, please send your reply to my private e-mailid: imehlewis@o2.pl for confidentiality sake.please note that i expect you to keep this proposal secret between me and you alone,i hope to hear from you soonest,so that i can tell you what next to do. Best regards,Imeh Lewis
_________________________________________________________________
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