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:
  • "dumorrage" (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. )
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 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.
  • +2347037200169

Fraud email example:

From: Cheryl Johnston <cljohnston@ualr.edu>
Reply-To: fedexdeliveryunitltd7@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:54:28 -0700
Subject: YOU HAVE A PACKAGE.

=3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EGreeting=2E =3CBR=3E = =3CBR=3EI am Mr=2ECheryl Johnston=2E=A0 have been waiting for you since = to contact me for =3CBR=3Eyour Confirmable Bank Draft of =24800=2E000=2E00 United States D= ollars=2C but =3CBR=3EI did not hear from you since that time=2E Then I went and depos= ited the =3CBR=3EDraft with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE=2C West Africa=2C I Travelled o= ut of the =3CBR=3Ecountry for a three Months Course and I will not come back till = end of Agust=2E =3CBR=3EWhat you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE = as soon =3CBR=3Easpossible to know when they will deliver your package to you be= cause of the expiring =3CBR=3Edate=2E =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3EFor your information=2C I have paid for the delivering Charge=2C= Insurance =3CBR=3Epremium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the cheque showing that= itis =3CBR=3Enot a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terroristattack in your Cou= ntry=2E =3CBR=3EThe only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to del= iver =3CBR=3EyourDraft direct to your postal Address in your country is (=243= 50=2E00 USD) Dollars only =3CBR=3Ebeing Security Keeping Fee ofthe Courier Company so far=2E Again= =2C don=27t be =3CBR=3Edeceived by anybody to pay anyother money except =24350=2E00 US = Dollars=2E I would have =3CBR=3Epaid that but they said no because they don=27t know when you wi= ll contact them and =3CBR=3Ein case of Dumorrage=2E =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3EYou have to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delive= ry of =3CBR=3Eyour Draft with this information bellow=3B =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3EContact Person=3A Mr=2E Larry Smith =3CBR=3EEmail =3Afedexdeliveryunitltd7=40hotmail=2Ecom =3CBR=3ETel=3A +234-7037200169 =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3EFinally=2C make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address() an= d Direct =3CBR=3Etelephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Deliv= ery and =3CBR=3Easkthem to give you the tracking number to enable you track your= =3CBR=3Epackage over there and know when it will get to your address=2E =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3ELet me repeat again=2C try to contact them as soon as you receiv= e this =3CBR=3Email toavoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Se= curity =3CBR=3EKeeping fee of =24350 US Dollars for their immediate action=2E =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3EYou should also let me know through email as soon as you receive= your =3CBR=3EDraft=2E =3CBR=3E =3CBR=3EYours Faithfully=2C =3CBR=3EMr=2ECheryl Johnston=2E =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3E

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam