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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "is highly 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • drjohnsmith2008@webmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Drjohn Smith <drjohnsmith0057@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:54:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DR JOHN SMITH




FROM THE OFFICE OF=20
DR JOHN SMITH THE
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT,=20
DEPT.OF TRANSPORT AND AVIATION.=20
SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG,=20
SOUTH AFRICA .=20

ATTN: Dear Sir/Madam,=20
This letter is not intending to cause you any embarrassment in what ever fo=
rm, rather an appeal for assistance. I am the Principal Accountant attached=
to the Department of Transport and Aviation here in Johannesburg South Afr=
ica. I have decided to send forth this proposal to you after some due liber=
ation in my department here in Johannesburg South Africa.=20
I have in my possession the sum of US$25Million)Twenty Five Million United =
States Dollars which i discovered last month in my department as the chief =
principal accountant of Transport and Aviation. The above fund, which is no=
w in a Governmental suspense account was accrued from recent contract award=
ed to a foreign firm for supplies of raw materials to my Department. This i=
s in pursuant to the terms of our agreement under the international monetar=
y fund (I.M.F.) and Paris Club dept-servicing program to pay out all outsta=
nding dept owed to foreign firms.=20
=A0
I am now seeking for your assistance for the easy transfer of the over-invo=
iced (surplus) amount as the foreign beneficiary of the fund when transfere=
d to your desginated bank account of your choice in your country.And also i=
n recognition of your personal executive profile and investment opportuniti=
es available in your country. At this juncture, I want you to stand as the =
original foreign contractor to the above fund to enable me put claim on the=
above sum. I will manipulate and authenticate the payment to your name and=
i am reassuring you that it is 100% risk free transaction and legitimate b=
ecause all the necessary arrangements have been made and finalized here.=20
=A0
Finally, I have agreed to give you 35% of the total fund due to your assist=
ance, 5% t o be set aside for expenses made by both parties While the remai=
ning 60% will be for my investment in your country after the transfer of th=
e fund to your desginated bank account.=20
Please if satisfied with this proposal, kindly notify me by telephone or se=
nd me an email on my private email address with your private telephone and =
fax numbers so that I can furnish you with more details on how the transact=
ion will be done.=20
=A0
I will be with you in person before the fund arrives in your country, Pleas=
e note that this is highly confidential and should be treated as such and k=
indly give me a call on my private telephone and email address :27- 78-1269=
-553, drjohnsmith2008@webmail.co.za for further details and clearifications=
..=20
Thanks and best regards=20
Dr.John Smith
(Principal Accountant)=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam