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:
  • "from the desk of" (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)
  • "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)
  • "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • platinum@deliveryman.com

Fraud email example:

From: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE FMF" <fmf1@ldsliving.com>
Reply-To: platinum@deliveryman.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:15:38 -0700
Subject: COMPENSATION !!!


COMPENSATION !!!
THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
FROM THE DESK OF THE HONOURABLE MINISTER
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, PMB 1008, GARKI-ABUJA
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA


ATTN: ALL THE LISTED BENEFICIARY


IMPORTANT COMPENSATION TO ALL VICTIMS OF FRAUD IN NIGERIA AND WEST AFRICA
FROM 2000 TO 2008.


Following the petition we received from United Nations Human Rights
Commissions (UNHRC) and the International Arbitration panel over non
compensation of advance fee fraud and scam victims in Nigeria. The federal
Government of Nigeria has set up a special panel called the (Foreign Debt
Reconciliational Panel) (FDRP)that comprises all the financial monitoring
body of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Governor of Central
Bank of Nigeria,the economic and financial crime commission (EFCC) and the
Minister of finance to work out the modalities for an amicable way of making
sure that every victim of fraud in Nigeria is duly compensated as a
pre-condition of lifting the economic sanction the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has imposed on Nigeria because of the
activities of these fraudsters and also to redeem the good image of Nigeria
among the committee of Nations.


It is significant to mention here that the Federal Government of Nigeria is
aware of the situation and the battered image, unholy names, international
prejudices and bias mind, prospective investors and foreign contractors have
for Nigeria, which is detriment to the Nation's Economy.


Owing to this development, The Foreign Debt Reconciliational Panel currently
sitting in London to carry out this payment has resolved to pay every victim
of fraud in Nigeria and west Africa the sum of US$500,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) each.The Federal Government has complied all
the names of the victims and has issued a cashier cheque of US$500,000.00 to
each person and is now ready to be sent to every beneficiary by the foreign
debt reconciliation panel.


This is necessary so that the beneficiaries would not be subjected to
officers bureaucratic ineptitude and administrative bottleneck of local
bankers and their international allies, that always hinder the transfer of
fund after the beneficiary have paid all that was ask of him, and provided
all the requirements as expected of him and still the transfer will not take
place.


On verification of the file sent to my table for approval, your name among
several other victims was approved to receive their compensation in this
year's 2nd quarter foreign debt reconciliation payment schedule.You are
therefore advised to contact the paymaster, foreign debt reconciliation
panel in London with your full name , official contact address and your
private telephone number to enable him despatch the cheque to you as soon as
possible.


THE CONTACT DETAILS OF THE PAY MASTER IN NIGERIA ARE AS FOLLOWS :


NAME: PETER KOMO

EMAIL: platinum@deliveryman.com



Note that each beneficiary is expected to pay only the sum of 120
Dollars(USD 120) only being the insurance and delivery cost of D.H.L courier
of the cheque to you.


You are therefore advised to stop any form of communication with any other
person or organization as the foreign debt reconciliational panel is the
only body set up by the federal government to carry out this
compensation.The federal government will not be held responsible for your
failure to contact the paymaster and receive your compensation fee as this
is the last chance you have now to receive this payment.Note that the
payment is based on first come first serve and your are advised to be urgent
and avail yourself of this given opportunity.


we sincerely appologize on behalf of the federal government for what you
have gone through in the hands of the unscrupulous elements.


Yours faithfully


SHAMSUDEEM USMAN.
HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam