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:
  • "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • michaeltochks_500@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Tochks <michaeltochks22@msn.com>
Reply-To: <michaeltochks_500@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 21:26:02 +0000
Subject: Businesss From Auditor Michael Tochks



Urgent Businesss From Auditor Michael TochksOccupations: Auditor. Dated: 2008 Attention:Sir/Madam Greetings!!! I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business opportunity. Though, I choose to reach you through internet because it still remains the fastest medium of communication. However, this correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such. I am Auditor Michael Tochks, a United Kingdom Government Auditor and I work in the international operation department in a Bank here in the UK. My purpose of contacting you is that I am looking for a Reliable partner to place as the next of kin/beneficiary to a dormant account that have not been operated for years in my bank with a total sum of £39,000,000.00 Pounds Sterlings and on further discreet investigation I also discovered that the account holder has long since passed on (dead)leaving no beneficiary or WILL to the account. I am contacting you to place you as the next of kin/beneficiary to the deceased and I will provide to you the necessary claim and documents the bank will require from you in other to claim this fund including the details information of the account in my next mail. I will inform you on what to do if you are going to assure me that you will not betray me and my family with this funds in your possession so as to enable me to start the paper works immediately without further delay. I have a family of four, myself, my wife Claudia, Hailey and Brooke. Please keep this business within your self for security and safe reasons. Thanks as I am in anticipation of your favourable response through my private email; michaeltochks_500@yahoo.com Sincerely, Michael Tochks.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam