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:
  • "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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • mr.jamessmark@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3amr.jamessmark@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.JAMES MARK" <mr.jamesmark@telegraf.by>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 10:36:08 -0700
Subject: URGENT RESPOND !!!


FROM MR.JAMES MARK,
Avenida santo Centrum
25, 28004 Cotonou-Benin
EMAIL:mr.jamessmark@yahoo.fr <EMAIL%3Amr.jamessmark@yahoo.fr>
DATE:18th July 2007.

My Dear Friend, Best Wishes to You!

I am a senior Accountant in my Bank and account officer to MR,Dave
Marsden who was a contractor with the government of BENIN. On The 21st
of october 2004, my customer, his wife and their two children were
involved in auto-crash along the ever busy Tokpa High Way Cotonou.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since
then,the Board of Directors of my Bank have made several enquires to
their embassy to locate any of my customer's extended relations but to no
avail.

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 deposits of (USD10M) Ten million
USA
Dollars was lodged.

The Bank has published several Notice for the Next of Kin of the
deceased to apply for collection of this Funds or have the account
confiscated within a shot Period of time.Since I have been unsuccessful in
locating
the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you
as the Next of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this Account
valued at US10 million dollars can be paid to you and Then you and me can
share the money.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any
claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable
this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
Arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the Law.

Please get in touch with my email and send to me your Telephone and fax
numbers to enable us further this Transaction. Please reply this letter to
my alternative (Email:mr.jamessmark@yahoo.fr<Email%3Amr.jamessmark@yahoo.fr>)
for security reasons.

Best regards,
Mr. James Mark,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam