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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic delivery"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: yengeni_01@mchsi.com (Kevin Gideon kerkula)
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 23:12:00 +0000
Subject: NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE(URGENT)

I am Gideon Kelvin Kerkula from Liberia.My father was the personal assistant
to the former president of the republic of liberia Charles Taylor.I am
contacting you in
regards to my consignment which is right now in your country
with a senior United nations high commission diplomatic
delivery man.This box contains (20million USD) which i want
you to assist me to receive in your country.It left the
custody of a renowned security company Ghana shipping council under united
nations.They are in charge of the shippment in Accra Ghana.

I want to inform you that this consignment has been in your
country for some days now.
I have already paid partly sum of $6,500 for the handlng charges
and for everything So all you need to do is for you to call
the diplomat immediately so he can make delivery to you.I am
offering 20% of the total sum to you for any assistance
rendered.

The name of the diplomatic delivery man in charge of the
delivery of my consignment will be forwarded to you as soon as i hear from you
Please get in touch with me and send me your full contact information so that
the
consignment will be delivered to your doorstep as soon as
possible.

Attached below is the document guarding this consignment and the picture of me
with the consignment before taken to your country.

I wait to hear from you with all your contact information.

Truly,
Gideon Kelvin Kerkula

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam