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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22997283173 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • george_mensah2003@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: george mensah <george_mensah152003@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:01:52 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT TRANSFER.



 
 





TRANSFER FROM THE DESK OF:
AMAGALGAMATED PAN WEST AFRICAN BANK
COTONOU,BENIN REPUBLIC.
{US$21.5 MILLION TO TRANSFER}
We adivce you to contact us through this below private  email  address
(george_mensah2003@hotmail.com)
 
 

 
Dear Sir,
 
I am Mr.GEORGE MENSAH , Bank Manager,Amalgamated Pan West African Bank {APWAB}. I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. An American,a Gold and Cotton consultant,/contractor with the West African Solid Minerals Corporation, MR,PATRICK CLARK, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$21.5M ( TWENTY -ONE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND   DOLLARS ), in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers,the West African Solid Minerals Corporation that MR,PATRICK CLARK,died in a plane crash in Alaska Airlines Flight 261.
 
Since we got this information about his death,on further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that MR,PATRICK CLARK,did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$21.5M( TWENTY-ONE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ),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 have ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Republic of BENIN, at the expiration of 6 (SIX) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Republic of BENIN Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to MR,PATRICK CLARK,so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.This is simple, I will like you to provide your  information,immediately you  receive this mail  your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and authorisation of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer.
 
A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 35% for you. then 5%will be map out for any expenses that may occur during transactions. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney.
 
And my position as the Branch Manager gurantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address below. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your fax and   confidential telephone numbers for easy communication and infor you to observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.Awaiting your urgent reply via my confidential email address contact; george_mensah2003@hotmail.com)
Tel : +229 97 28 31 73

 
Regards

 
MR.GEORGE MENSAH.


__________________________________________________________
Not happy with your email address?.
Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam