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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Kenneth Souza" <kenouza2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 09:39:23 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION............


Dear respectful one,

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

On April 6th 2003, a Lebanese Cocoa merchant/consultant,MR ADAMS SALEH made
a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months valued at
$7,300,000.00(seven million three hundred thousand US dollars) at my branch.
Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder. Eventually, we discovered
from his contract employer that MR. SALEH had died. Further investigations
conducted by me indicated that he neither left a WILL nor a contactable next
of kin or a relation in his entire official document, including his bank
deposit information with us.

This amount is still available in my branch, and rolls over with interest
every year. Nobody has and will ever come forward to claim this money.
According to our Country's Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, this
money will be reverted to the Ownership of the Government, which in turn
will end up in the hands of some very corrupt and unscrupulous Government
Officials. Consequently, my proposal is that, I will like you to stand in as
his next of kin, so that this old man's fruit of labor does not get into the
hands of uncaring Government Officials. There are legions of less privileged
people all over the world for whom a meal is like paradise. I feel that
other than allowing this money to disappear, it will be more useful and
beneficial to give it out to charitable Organizations.

I need your assistance as a foreigner to stand as his next of kin and claim
this money.

The process is simple. According to my enquiries from attorneys, all that is
required to claim this money is a letter of ADMINISTRATION from the probate
registry of the Federal High Court. An attorney will apply with your name as
his next of kin. A letter of administration will be issued within Ten (10)
working days. This letter will enable the attorney apply to claim this
money on your behalf, which would then be transferred to you into a foreign
account which you will provide. I wish to point out that I want 40% of this
money to be shared among the charity Organizations, while the remaining 60%
is shared equally between us.

This proposition is entirely risk free. A good attorney would provide expert
services while I will use my position in the bank to guarantee the
successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please
contact me via my email address;

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand this transaction well.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this
transaction would be profitable for both of us. I will also require your
assistance towards investing my share in your Country.

I look forward to your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,
Kenneth Souza.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam