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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031910353 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704793980 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • sirjohnbannister109@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: sirjohnbannister109@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:51:36 -0400
Subject: Please Acknowledge Receipt.

>From the Desk of: Sir J.C.C. Bannister.

Contact Tel : +44-703-191-0353;

Contact Fax : +44-870-479-3980.

Direct Mail: sirjohnbannister109@yahoo.co.uk



Dear Friend,

I hope my e-mail meets you well as we have actually been searching for
any possible link or semblance with an individual that shares the same
last name as one of our late clients.

My name is JOHN BANNISTER, and I am the managing director / chief
executive officer of the H.S.B.C Private Banking Unit, a private investment
arm of H.S.B.C Bank Plc here in the United Kingdom. During the yearly
preliminary in-house auditing of accounts, I discovered that a US$
domiciliary check-in account opened in October 1998 has been dormant since
the January 2001. The total amount in this account is US$18.45Million
United State Dollars cash call time deposit without accrued interests.

Working together with the audit manager, we decided to investigate this
account for more information. We discovered that the owner of this
account, a foreigner & contractor with the Transport Department, who shares
the same last name as you, died in the year 2000,leaving no heirs or
next of kin whatsoever.

Presently, we are only two people in our organization with access to
this information and we have decided to keep it that way and claim the
money for ourselves using a third party who we will present as the next
of kin to the deceased (Names Withheld). We will supply the necessary
information on the deceased and ensure that the claim application is
given immediate approval. Documents like the death certificate and the
Next-Of-Kin Bio data form will be arranged by us and forwarded to you for
onward submission to the bank in order for you to officially file for
these funds under the auspices of an inheritance claim.

The project is risk-free, as we will use contacts that hold strategic
positions in the bank to effect a successful completion of the project
and also ensure that all traces of our mutual involvement are completely
wiped off. This presents no problem, as all documented evidence will be
under my supervision directed. It is important we claim these funds for
ourselves immediately since such kind of time deposits automatically
reverts to the British Government in the 5th year of dormancy, as
stipulated by the Financial Act of 1987.

We have earmarked a commission of 30% of the total amount for you, 5%
will be set aside to cover expenses on both sides, and 65% for us.
Should you be interested in this transaction, please furnish us with your

1) Full Names,
2) Date of Birth,
3) Residential Address,
4) Telephone and Fax Numbers.

I will sure be contacting you soon enough.


Best Regards,


Sir John Bannister.
Direct Mail: sirjohnbannister109@yahoo.co.uk

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam