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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447031970603 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "FRED BROWN" <fredbrownn03@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: brownfredchamber@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:49:28 -0700
Subject: Greeting to you and your family


Legal Practiction, Barrister Fred Brown
(Brown Chambers & Associates),
RPA Consulting,
Nechells parkway Birmingham,
United Kingdom.
+447031970603

Dear Friend Greeting to you and your family.

I quite know my mail will suprise you and make you think otherwise for the
fact that we haven't known each other before. However, as you read down my
mail, you will understand that contacting you is not by accident rather it
is handwork of God Almighty.I am Barrister Fred Brown, I am the Personal
Attorney to Engr.Michael Gaer's Lyold, national of United State of America
U.S.A, who used to work with Birmingham Government here in England as a
contractor.On the 25th of july 2005, my client, his wife and their three
children were involved in a Air plane crash bound for New York with his
family.

Unfortunately they all Lost their lives in the event of the crash, since
then I have made several enquiries to my late client to Locate any of my
clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his Relatives over the
Internet, to locate any member of His family but of no avail, hence I
contacted you.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money in addition, property
left behind by my client before they get Confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the Bank Where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly,
the Bank where the deceased Had an account valued at about US$4.5 Million
USD. Consequently, the Bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or
have the Account the next ten official working days as his Lawyer.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives For over 2
years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased , So that the proceeds of this Account valued at US$4.5 million
USD, can be paid to you and then you and I Can share the money.60% to me and
30% to you, while 10% should be for expenses or taxes your Government may
require. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back
up any claim we may make and also the deposit certificate that was issued to
my late client on the day he deposited the Fund with the Bank..
All I require from you is Below
Name in full.....
Address.......
occupation............
Date of birth...........
Telephone/Fax No.......

these will be used to Submit an Application of Claim for you in my late
client the Bank. Your honest cooperation will be needed to enable us see
this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. Please your urgent respond is
needed to this matter, as I will advice you contact me to discuss further.

Best Regards,
Barrister Fred Brown. (Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam