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)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Kyle Yvonne" <ky100001@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:40:29 +0200
Subject: Please get in touch


FROM THE DESK OF:
ABSA BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA.SANDTONBRANCH.
{USD30,MILLION TO TRANSFER}
DEAR Sir,

I am Kyle yvonne Bank Manager Amalgamated Bank of South Africa {ABSA}. I
have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. An American
Gold consultant/contractor with the South African Solid Gold Corporation,Mr
John Cuthbertson made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar
months, valued at US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Dollars) in my branch.
Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to the forwarding address but
got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered
from the contract employers, the South African Solid Gold Corporation that
Mr John Cuthbertson died in a plane crash in Alaska Airlines Flight 261(for
more information about this crash and person you can contact this website:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/ since we got
this information about his death. On further investigation, I found out
that his 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 John Cuthbertson did not declare any kin or relations in all the
official documents, including the Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This
sum of US$30,000,000.00 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
will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Republic OF SOUTH
AFRICA, at the expiration of 6 (SIX) years, the money will revert to the
ownership of the South African 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 John Cuthbertson 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 immediately 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 notarisation 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 70%
for me and 25% 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 grantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are
interested, please reply immediately via the private email address above.
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me fax
and your confidential telephone numbers for easy communication. Please
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.
Regards Kyle yvonne

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam