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:
  • "million 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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Madam Almirah Ahmed" <a.almiral5@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:10:09 +0800
Subject: From Mrs. Almirah Ahmed.


*From Mrs. Almirah Ahmed.
Center De Santa Bethesda Hospital
83BP: 1730 Gbejromede
Cotonou Benin Republic *
**
*Compliments of the day*
**
*It is with tears and pains that I write this mail from my sick bed in a
hospital. I believe you have never met such a condition before. My name is
Mrs.Almira Ahmed, widow to late Mr. Khalid Ahmed, former owner of PETROLEUM
AND GAS Company, here in Benin Republic. I am 68 years old,suffering from
long time cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is really
deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months
according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a
very bad stage. I don't want your pity me, but I need your trust. My late
husband died in December 2003 in a plane crash in Benin,(please check,
**http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html*<http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html>
*) *
**
*During the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late
husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business
and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than 2
months, so I have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly
to the development of charity in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Am sorry
if you are embarrassed by my mail. *
**
*I found your e-mail address as a real Child of God for over a month now
that I have been investigating about you to know if really you are working
according to the direction of God so after all my investigation I am
convince, and I have decided to contact you, but if for any reason you find
this mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my
apology before my late husband died he was a major oil tycoon, in Benin and
deposited the sum of US$8 Million (Eight Million Dollars only) in Asia years
ago, That's all I have left now, I need your help to collect this funds and
distribute it yourself to charity homes.So that when I die my soul will rest
in peace.*
**
*The funds will be entirely in your manage ment hope God gives you the
wisdom to touch very many lives that is my main concern. 20%of this fundwill
be for your time and effort, while 80% goes to charity. *
**
*God bless you.
Mrs.Almira Ahmed*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam