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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Francesca <drfrancesca007@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: drfrancesca008@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:49:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL


FROM THE DESK OF:
DR,MRS FRANCESCA AGBO,
SOCIAL SECURITY BANK.
HEADQUARTERS ACCRA GHANA.
=A0
Dear Sir/Madam ,
=A0
I'M DR,MRS FRANCESCA AGBO, credit officer of SOCIAL SECURITY BANK, I have a=
n urgent and very confidential business proposition for you,In June 1999,a =
German property consultant and importer of used Vehicles, Mr Andreas F.COOP=
ER made a (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months,valued at US$2.500,000=
..00(Two Million Five Hundred Thousand USD Dollars only) in my branch.
It was to our utter surprise that we heard of his death, wife and children =
in an AF4590 plane crash in July 2000.See websitebelow
=A0
:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
=A0
On further investigation,I found out that he diedwithout making a WILL,and =
hitherto, all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. Mr Andreas F=
..COOPER was residing at No 1 Rue de Avenda, G.R.A. Accra , Ghana.I therefor=
e made further investigation and discovered that Mr Andreas F.COOPER did no=
t declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,including his =
Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.
=A0
This sum of US$2.5,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest =
is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one=
will ever come forward to claim it.According to Laws of Ghana, at the expi=
ration of 7 (SEVEN) years, the money will be declared frozen and forfeited =
to the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
=A0
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as aforeigner to stand in=
as the next of kin or business partner to Mr Andreas F.COOPER so that the =
fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt =
government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediatel=
y your full names and address,phone and fax numbers so that the attorney wi=
ll prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in plac=
e as the next of kin or business partner.
I have only one superior officer of the bank that know of this transaction =
and i want you to keep it as confidential,cos i don't want the bank to know=
im involved in the transaction.
Your role in the transaction is to send an application for claim of the fun=
ds to our bank.Then, as top officials of the bank, we shall work behind-the=
-scene to make sure that your application is approved by the management of =
the bank,and the funds transfered to your nominated bank account. Please no=
te that there is no iota of risks at all as all the paperwork for this tran=
saction will be done legitimately and with our positions as top officials o=
f the bank would ensure a successful execution of this transaction. If you =
are interested,please reply immediately to my email box.
=A0
Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communi=
cation.
You should observe utmost CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY in this transaction, =
and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of=
us because I will require your assistance to invest my share in your count=
ry this means you and i will make investment with the money, you must be tr=
ustworthy and reliable ,and when everything is done you must be ready to se=
nd me invitation letter to join you over there .
=A0
I look forward to your prompt response.
Thanks .
DR,MRS FRANCESCA=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam