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.
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • infoedward_spencer@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Edward Spencer" <edward_spencer@usa.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:39:26 +0100
Subject: Hello

The Chairman/Managing Director,
Dear Sir,
My name is Edward Spencer. I am resident in Germany. I am also a sales manager in a private equity firm here. My company is mandated to source for reliable individuals or firms seeking venture capital for their businessess or projects. This is why I am making this contact.
Our venture capital is from institutional private and public pension funds, endowments, foundations and individuals who seek to diversify their portfolio. The pool is close to two billion US dollars. Depending on your experience and the proposal you will forward to us, we will determine a suitable amount to remit to you to kick off the business you intend to invest in. You will manage this business without interference for a period of seven years, after which, the profit after taxation will be shared in an agreed ratio.
The investment areas is not limited as we have investments in various industry sectors, various geographic sectors and in various stages in a company's life. This may include new businessess (early stage investing) or injection of funds into an existing firm (expansion stage investing) that, of course, has the potential of making profit. Bearing in mind that you are not authorised to invest in public companies or government agencies, you can incorporate a firm fully owned by you based on the laws of your country and we will provide the seed investment. You can equally export and import goods as may be profitable.
A due dilligence must ne conducted on your project as we have to look at several hundred opportunities before investing in those with favourable IRR. You will be required to meet with us to finalise arrangements on how to move the agreed funds into your account and sign related documents that will authorise you to manage this money on our behalf. A draft agreement which will finetune all gray areas and ensure a smooth take off will be forwarded to you upon approval of your proposal.
Please reply to this mail and I will forward more information to you. All we need is to assertain your credibility, resourcefullness and experience. Send your reply to infoedward_spencer@myway.com
I earnestly await your response.
Regards,
Edward

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam