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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "joe milton" <barrmiltonjoe@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: barrmiltonjoe@live.com
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 01:54:47 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend, URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED!!


Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Milton Joe,a solicitor at law. I am the personal Attorney To
Mr Johnnie Istephan ,a National of your Country, On the 21st of April 2002,
my client was involved in a car accident.Unfortunately he lost his life.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the Bank where this huge deposit was lodged. The bank where the deceased had
an account valued at about 11.8 million
dollars Has issued me a notice to provid the next of kin or have the account
Confiscated within the next twenty official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives,since you are a
Foriegner,I now seek your consent to present you as the next of kin Of the
deceased so that the Proceeds of this account valued at 11.8 million dollars
can be paid to you,subsequently to be shared among us
If you agree, we can discuss your percentage.

I have all necessary Legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal
Through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.And also i would like to get
your phone number and full contact address for quick action.You could
contact me with my confidential email address:
(barrmiltonjoe@live.com)

Awaiting your response.

Best regards,
Milton Joe (Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam