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:
  • "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. David Tetteh" <mr_david_tetteh_eb_gh@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 20:06:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ECOBANK / URGENT REPLY


From: Mr. David Tetteh,
Eco Bank of Ghana,
Treasury/Credit Department,
Accra, Ghana.

Attn:

Permit me to inform you that I am the above named person, and head of the above mentioned department.

In my position is an accrued/accumulated interest totaling to the tune of Thirteen Million, Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars (US$13,700,000) that we want to transfer abroad for our personal benefits.

The funds are an accrued/accumulated interest on money deposited by former Rwanda President, Mr. Bizimugu. Note that the capital or initial deposit (US$251MILLION) has been returned / paid back to the Rwanda government leaving the accrued interest because they were not informed.

I am contacting you therefore to solicit your cooperation and consent to provide a formidable bank account wherein the accrued interest (US$13,700,000) could be wired into for the mutual benefit of us all.

It is 100% risk free as no person is aware of these funds.

Please indicate your interest to partake in this venture by sending your bank account details where the money would be wired. Endeavor to state your private phone and fax number. Terms shall be discussed on receipt of your reply.

Be it known that it is purely on a private arrangement.

Treat with confidentiality and urgency.

Regards,
Mr. David Tetteh
Director of Operations.


---------------------------------
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam