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:
  • "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
  • +447035919509 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. BEN SEAL COLE" <worlddebt1@o2.pl>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 10:11:31 -0700
Subject: Attention: Fund Beneficiary,


MR. BEN SEAL COLE. Director World Debt Reconciliation Committee
Notification U.K Tel:+44 70359 19509 Attention: Fund Beneficiary, We
are pleased to inform you that We are World Debt Reconciliation
Committee newly set up by The International Bank For Reconciliation
And Development (WORLD BANK) And the International Monetary Fund
(IMF)based on series of petitions we received from International
Bodies such as Cooperate Bodies and Non Governmental Organization
(NGO) on the inability of some Government of different countries in
the World,Commercial banks and World Lottery Organization to settle
their clients Contract debt, Inheritance Fund and Winning prize fund.
After an extensive close door meeting between the Board of Directors
of WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND), It was resolved and
agreed upon that this body-WORLD INTERNATIONAL DEBT Reconciliation
Committee will work extensively to ensurethat your Contract Payment,
Your Inheritance and Lottery Winning prize
fund will be paid without
any hitch and delay through the World Bank and IMF Insurance body.
1. You are strictly advised to inform us as your agent any of the
above mentioned Debt you are being owed any where in the world. The
contract Amount and Country which the contract was executed. 2.The
Bank name and location where your Inheritance Fund are tied up and
amount due to you. 3,Your Winning Prize lottery Company and the
amount won. Note that on receipt of your complaints and list of debt
due for payment, your Fund will be called back from its verious point
where it has been tied up by World Bank and IMF and your payment will
be arranged and effected based on your choice of payment. Urgently
furnish this Office with your Name and contact information to enable
us open up communication with you regarding the remittances of your
payment. Thanks. Yours Faithfully, MR. BEN SEAL COLE.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam