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:
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. HASSAN SALEM" <hass.salem@superposta.com>
Reply-To: hassansalem_49@yahoo.com.vn
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 06:29:58 +0100
Subject: THIS LETTER IS PRIVATE TO YOU.


Hello my dear,

Greetings to you.

I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you will
not betray me. I am Mr. Salem Hassan, a Banker here in U.A. E.

One Mr. John Adams, a citizen of your country and Crude Oil dealer made a
fixed deposit with my bank in 2003 for 60 calendar months, valued at
US$21,400,000.00 (Twenty One Million, Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars) the
due date for this deposit contract was this 22nd of February 2008. Sadly
John was among the death victims in the May 26 2006 Earthquake disaster in
Jawa, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people. He was in Indonesia on a
business trip and that was how he met his untimely end. My bank management
is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and
I am his Account Relationship Officer. John did not mention any Next of
Kin/Heir when the account was opened, he was not married and no children.
Last week my Bank Management requested that John should give instructions on
what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I know this will
happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the
situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to know that John is dead
and do not have any Heir, they will take the funds for their personal use,
so I don't want such to happen. That is why I am seeking your co-operation
to present you as the Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since you are a
foreigner and my bank head quarters will release the account to you. There
is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law.

It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to
take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting
we share the funds in this ratio, 50/50%, equal sharing. Let me know your
mind on this and please do treat this information highly confidential. We
shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response.

Have a nice day and God bless. Anticipating your communication.

Mr. Hassan Salem

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam