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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: officefile5018 <officefile5018@gmail.com>
Reply-To: okoyekings@live.com
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:26:38 +0100
Subject: Your Compensational Gift.


*Dear Friend,*


*I am Barrister Emeka Onu.I did not forgot your past effort and attemps to
assist me, now I'm
happy to inform you that i have suceeded in getting those funds
transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Japan.*

*Now Contact my secretary in Lagos- Nigeria ask him for($1M)for
yourcompensation his,Name is : MR OKOYE KINGS
EMAIL:(**okoyekings@live.com*<okoyekings@live.com>
*)
Kindly reconfirm to him the following below information:
Your full name_________________________
Your address__________________________
Your country___________________________
Your age______________________________
Your occupation________________________
Your cell Phone number______________________
Note that if you did not send him the above information complete, he will
not release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it is you. *

*REGARDS*

*MR.EMEKA ONU.*

**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam