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)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22997490017 (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.
  • gmtcc@hotmail.com
  • gmtcc1@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "office mail" <officemail05143165@torba.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 17:14:56 +0200
Subject: YOUR CHECK DELIVERY,


DEAR FRIEND,

COMPLIMENT OF THE DAY,

IT HAS BEEN LONG TIME WE COMMUNICATED LAST. I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY.THIS
VERY IMPORTANT MAIL IS IN RESPECT OF YOUR CHECK OF ($1musd) ONE MILLION
DOLLARS THAT MY
BOSS INSTRUCTED ME TO MAIL TO YOU AS SOON AS REQUEST FOR IT.

FRANKLY, DUE TO SOME MINOR ISSUES YOU FAILED TO RESPOND AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME.PRESENTLY THE CHECK IS WITH ME HERE IN BENIN REPUBLIC.

THOUGH I HAD A NEW CONTACT FROMA FRIEND OFMINE WHO WORKS WITH GLOBALMAX
TRUST
COURIER COMPANY HERE IN BENIN REPUBLIC, THAT WILL ASSIST YOU DELIVERY OF
YOUR
CHECK AT YOUR DOOR STEP AT CHEAPER RATE.

THE INFORMATION I GOT FROM THE COMPANY IS THAT IT WILLCOST YOU THE SUM
OF$195.00usd SO
I HAVE REGISTERED IT WITH THEM NOWHER IS THE REGISTRATION
NUMBER:GMTCCP12546.

I HAVE PAID THE DELIVERY CHARGES. THEN ONLY MONEY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PAY
TO
THEM IS NINETY FIVE DOLLARS $195.00usd WHICH THEY WILL USE TO OBTAIN AN
AFFIDAVIT OF
OWNERSHIP FROMFEDERALHIGH COURT OF BENIN REPUBLIC HERE BEFORE YOUR CHECK
WILLBE
DELIVER TO AVOID ANY DELAY.

BLOW IS THE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATIONS:
E-MAIL: gmtcc@hotmail.com (or) gmtcc1@yahoo.fr
TEL:+229-9749-0017.
DIRECTOR'S NAME IS:MR MD.MAXWELL.

MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MEANWHILE, IT IS UTMOST
IMPORTANCE THAT YOU CONTACT THEM FOR MORE INFORMATION AND CLEARIFICATION
THROUGH THEIR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER ABOVE. CONTACT ME AS SOON
AS
YOU GETINTOUCH WITH THEM

THANK YOU.

SINCERELY,
SECRETARY
MR.MARTIN KUME.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam