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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
  • +22997859778 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • garuba_alin@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: gorgewilliams332266@mail.mn
Reply-To: garuba_alin@hotmail.fr
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:35:18 -0700
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY


*Dear Friend,

It is my pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful attempt on our
business transaction. Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you
immensely for your earlier sincere effort to help me in receiving our claim
funds. I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the
funds with the help of a new partner from Asia Mr. John Tasia of Indo China
Group Limited. Everything was perfectly done because we strike a deal with a
Lady Mrs. Rita Adams the Accountant Manager in Federal Ministry of Finance
(FMF), and she rendered a tremendous help to us. My new partner initiated
this idea and everything worked successfully.

Meanwhile, i made it clear to my new partner before the actualization of the
fund in his new account, that you have been carried on the transaction
before him and geared many effort in other to actualize the claim fund with
me, therefore you must be compensated with 10% of the total fund as i vowed
to my God that i will never forget your so far effort.

In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the funds, I
have decided to compensate you with the sum of $1,500,000.00 (One Million
Five hundred thousand United States Dollars) in a Cashier's draft. With
delivering fee of $1, 75.00, I did draft this cheque on your behalf simply
to show appreciation for your past kind effort/assistance even though we
couldn't succeed due to some unforeseen circumstances. Presently, I am in
South Korea for investment with my own share sequel to the advice of Mr.
John Tasia.

Following the above indication, you are hereby advice to contact my
secretary in Cotonou Benin Republic, with your contact address where you
want the draft to be delivered to you. His name is Mr. Garuba , Telephone
number +229 9785 9778, Email address(garuba_alin@hotmail.fr**) You can call
him for his urgent attention.

Below are the information he will need to register your cheque in any
courier/delivering company that will deliver to your door step without
further delay, hence i have gave him the delivery fee of your drafted :

Your Full Name: ...................
Your House Address: ............................
Your Telephone Number: ...............
Age: ...............
Occupation: ..................
Nationality: .................

Instruction has passed to him to proceed with the delivering of your cheque
immediately you contact and furnished him with the above information. I.e.
feel free to contact him for delivery of your compensation drafted cheque.

Best regards,

Mr. Williams *
**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam