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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: RICHARD BUCKNOR <richdesm14@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <richdesm@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:45:44 -0500
Subject: (A letter from Richard Bucknor) READ CAREFULLY.



First Commercial Bank29 Wilson StreetLondon.EC2M 2SJ
Dear Friend,I am Mr Richard Bucknor, the Head of Audit Department,First Commercial Bank, London, UK. And forreasons which will become obvious to you as you readon.I have a very urgent and confidential businessproposition for you. On September 13th 1999, a Crude OilContractor with the Kuwait National PetroleumCorporation, Engr. Ahmed Youseff Mustafa , anational of kuwait, made a numbered time ( fixed)deposit for 12 calendar months, value GBP 33,500,000.00 (THIRTY THREE MILLION, FIVE HUNDREDTHOUSAND POUNDS) in mybranch. On maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally, his contract employers, the Kuwait National Petroleum Corporationwrote to inform us that Engr. A Y Mustafa died on anautomobile accident; that he died without making aWILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kinthrough the kuwait embassy were fruitless. I thereforemadefurther investigations and discovered that Mr. Mustafahad actively opposed the Government of his countrykuwait, and was consequently driven into exile. My proposal therefore is that, I am looking for aforeigner who will stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Mustafa. It is not necessary to be a bloodrelation to Mr. Mustafa, nor have the same name.. It isnot also necessary to come from the same Country. Ihave worked out the modalities to achieve my aim ofappointing a next of kin, and therefore also by thismeans we transfer this money total GBP 33.5M abroadfor usto share. No one will ever come forward to claim itnow, and according to British law,after 9 years, themoney will automatically revert to the GovernmentTreasury if the Account owner is a foreigner, andcertified dead, and there is no valid claim. The money transfer paperwork itself will include acertificate of origin so that the receiving bank does not ask questions or refuse the money as moneylaundering. Also, the paperwork will include proper certification that the funds being transferred arefrom non criminal sources. In short this will be a proper and legal money transfer and there is no risk!.Once you indicate your interest I will initiate theprocessing of the transfer and in about 14 workingdays the money total GBP 33.5M will be in yournominated bank account for us to share in the ratio of55% for me and 45% for you. Looking forward to your urgent reply.Yours truly Mr. Richard Bucknor
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook – together at last.  Get it now.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971033

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam