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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (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. )
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • ",000,000" (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.
  • sannyunity@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: sanny ikem <barristersanny_ikem@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:47:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Next Of Kin: Micheal Gallatin


Dear Micheal Gallatin

I am Barrister Sanny Ikem, a legal practitioner, I am the personal attorney to Late Mr. P.A. Gallatin, a national Of your country, who used to work with Mobil Development Company in Lome, Togo. He used to be my client. He Died with his wife and their only child in World trade center bombing on the 11th of sep. 2001. Before his death, my deceased client deposited two boxes containing $8,000,000.00 United Sates Dollars with a Security Company in Lome-Togo.


Here He accumulated this money from an onshore engineering award. I decided to search for any foreigner that has the same surname with my late client in repatriating the consignment since I found it unsuccessful to find a true relative to him. I want you to quickly file in for claim before the security company will declare the consignment unserviceable.

The money was packed in cash in two boxes, the boxes was not opened, and he declared it as containing just family valuables of classified documents and he paid a high price for the special diplomatic service of deposit here (a category of deposit in which a customers consignment is never opened for inspection).

As you have the same surname with the decease, this is why I am writing to you so that I will assist you claim this consignment. I will prepare every documentation that will assist your claim. The consignment will be released to you within 7 working days after you have filed in for claims. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible,Please you also include your telephone and fax number for easy communication.

here is my private at sannyunity@yahoo.com


Sincerely,
Barrister Sanny Ikem(Esq)



---------------------------------
Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.
Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam