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:
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +447045789149 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Merna Fenn <mfenn12@msn.com>
Reply-To: dosar20219@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:07:21 +0000
Subject: pls get back to me Immediately ...

=46rom :Mr. Merna Fenn .
Att :Sir/Madam.

I NEED YOUR COOPERATION TO TRANSFER =A315,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million=
Great=20
British Pound Sterlings) TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

My name is Mr. Merna Fenn. and I work in a Bank here in London.Theref=
ore I=20
need your cooperation in this transaction.

I will provide all necessary information needed in order to claim thi=
s =20
oney.Hoping in God that you will never let me down now or in future Y=
our=20
full name,occupation and phone number is needed Let me hear from you =
With=20
trust and believe, kindly send me your information urgetly for onward=
=20
procedures if you are interested,as well on replying send me the foll=
owings.

Beneficiary Name:...........
Account number..............
Bank Name:..................
Bank Address:...............
Swift Code:.................
Your Age:...................
Your Occupation:............
Your Telephone & Fax No:..............for easy communication

Thank you for your time and attention.

Yours truly,

Mr. Merna Fenn .
Mobile Tel: +44 70457 89149

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam