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:
  • "please indicate your readiness" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Samuel Peters" <samuelpeters011@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: samuelpeters_lawyer2@live.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:32:02 -0500
Subject: I anticipate your urgent response.

Samuel Peters
St. Anthony's Alley,
No. 27 Lake Chad Avenue
Off Johnson Way, Maitama, Abuja.

I am Samuel Peters, personal attorney to Mr. Mark . My client and his family unfortunately lost there lives in an explosion in Lagos Nigeria. Since then I have
made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I
decided and did some research on the internet, to locate any member of his family. Hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist us in repatriating the funds left behind by my blate client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank bwhere
these huge amount deposits were lodged. The African Development Bank
Group, Lagos Branch where my client deposited Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars (US $7.5 million dollars). The Bank has issued me a
notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the
next fourteen official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the direct relatives for over some 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 $7.5 million
dollars can be transferred to your account there in your country, then you and I can share the money. I have all necessary legal documents that will back up claim
we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see
this transaction through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please indicate your readiness to assist me, so
that all the information about these funds will be passed to you immediately. You should send to me your full names and your private telephone numbers for easy
communications. And also assure me of your trust and remember that trust in business is confidentiality.

You can view the website to confirm the explosion.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm

I await your response.

Best regards.
Barr. Samuel Peters.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam