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)
  • "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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2347025222978

Fraud email example:

From: "INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF NIGERIA." <icbe@banksite.com>
Reply-To: ic.bc@live.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:46:33 -0000
Subject: Dear Friend,



--
Dear Friend,

Compliments of the season. It is indeed my pleasure to write to you this
letter, which I believe will be a suprise,as we are both complete strangers.

I am Mr. Wang Lee, the manager, credit and foreign bills, Industrial and
Commercial Bank Of NIGERIA (ICBC). I am writing in respect of a foreign
customer of my bank with account number is 1194-255-28004 who perished in
Egyptian Air Flight with the whole passengers aboard on 31st oct 1999
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/502503.stm Since the demise of this our
customer, I personally has watched with keen interest to see the next of kin
but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of USD$16
Million Dollars which has been with my branch for a very long time.

On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the next of
kin as no one has come up as his relation. And the country law here does not
allow such money to stay more than Ten years, for the money will be recalled
to the government treasury as unclaimed after this period. Upon the receipt of
your response, I will send to you the application, bank's contact and the next
step to follow.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free and
that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can
be finalized within 14 banking days, after you apply to the bank as a relation
to the deceased. Immediately you receive this letter, Kindly send me an e-mail
signifying your decision, Including your private Tel and Fax numbers for quick
communication. I will be very happy if you can treat this business with the
utmost secrecy it demands because of my position in this bank.
Hoping for a very successful business relationship with you.

Respectfully submitted,

Mr. Wang Lee.
Tel;+2347025222978.
Manager Credit and Foreign Bills.
INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF NIGERIA. (ICBC).
email:ic.bc@live.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam