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:
  • "activation fee" (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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22993840292 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • sdc_companybenin2001@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: edu.ike6@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 13:24:50 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20SHALOM=20COURIER=20SECURITY=20COMPANY=20LIMITED=20FOR=20YOUR=20ATM=20CARD?=

Hello Dear
This is to inform you that the ($850.000.00) has been deposited with SHALOM
COURIER COMPANY,I registered it as a consignment. I paid the delivery fee
so you will only send them the re-activation fee to enabl them re-activate
your ATM CARD, Contact them as soon as you received this email so that they
will charge you for only one month dumorage fee which is $93 only.
CONTACT THE BELOW INFORMATION FOR THE ($850.000.00)
HIS CONTACT; DR.MAXWELL SHARGAN
MANAGER SHALOM COURIER SECURITY COMPANY LIMITED.
E-mail:( sdc_companybenin2001@yahoo.fr )
CONTACT PHONE+229-93-840-292
SEND THE BELOW INFORMATION TO THEM.

Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Age--------------------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home Telephone---------------------
Office Telephone---------------------
Mobile Phone----------------------
Nationality-------------------------

Indicate this code ((GM0081)) it will prove that you are the owner of the
($850.000.00) ATM deposited in their company.Finally, Copy this pin number
((6742)) you will use it to withdraw your total money in the ATM MASTER
CARD as soon as it arrives to you,NOTE;Nobody should know the number to
be use in withdraw the money for security reason.
Regards
GENERAL SECRETARY

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam