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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +447031902994 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • purchaschristopher9@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Christopher=20Purchas?= <purchaschristopher8@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: purchaschristopher8@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:14:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REPLY IMMEDIATELY


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:purchaschristopher8@yahoo.com.co



- From the desk of: Barr. Christopher Purchas QC Member Barrister of the Queen's Counsel Crown Office Chambers, 2 Crown Office Row, Temple, London, EC4Y 7HJ. Phone: +44-703-190-2994 E-mail: purchaschristopher9@hotmail.com Dear Beneficiary, Following the protest of the United Nations, The World Bank and IMF, that all outstanding foreign debts especially next of kin,contract payments and online transfer should be released to the beneficiaries forthwith unconditionally from transactions with any Mortgage & Finance institutions in European and African countries. The International Community has approved the payment of $1,000,000.00 USD (One Million United states Dollars) to you and the fund is officially deposited with BARCLAYS bank in London. I hereby advice you to STOP any further communication with your associates in any of the European and African countries for they contributed 100% hindrances to the release of your funds. We wish to use this opportunity to notify you that your payment has been re-scheduled to be released to you through the BARCLAYS bank London,United Kingdom. I hereby request that you notify us on a possible date that may be convenient for you to visit BARCLAYS bank in London for your payment or you may request for a bank to bank online transfer should you have a genuine reason(s) not to be physically present here for your payment so, get in touch immediately for a possible date for the completion of your payment. Regards, Christopher Purchas QC Barrister of the Queen's Counsel

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam