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:
  • "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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Solomon Bankole" <solomon_1@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:32:03 -0700
Subject: Dear


Dear
This letter is strictly for your attention and for your personal use only. I
am, Dr. Femi Martins, Finance Director of the Niger Delta Shipyard, Warri,
Delta State. The Niger Delta Shipyard is a multinational firm, jointly owned
by (4) Oil rich Niger Delta States; comprising of Rivers State, Cross River,
Delta and Bayelsa State. It is the second largest source of Revenue to The
four States after Crude Oil and Gas (LNG).

Following my retirement I am making plans to secure funds for my retirement
age and for future investment in the real estate and any profitable business
in your country. To this effect, I have a strictly and confidential
information as regards to a contractor with the above Company who is now
late. His name is late Eng, Antonio N.Diaz, he has a cash deposit with a
security firm which the information are here with me to forward to you on
your acceptance to work with me. I will present you as his partner.

However, the amount in question is to the tune of US$12Million Dollars i
shall need your assistance to receive these funds for safekeeping prior to
my arrival to your country with my family for my share, since I have the
zeal to invest and retire outside this country, by the middle of this year
2008.

Please keep this letter to your heart and reply to me urgently to enable me
disclose to you more details and other steps to be taken to ensure a smooth
transfer process. This transaction is risk free and attract no atom of
criminalities.

Awaiting your kind response.

Sincerely,

Dr. Femi Martins

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam