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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million us 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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <barrpeterudo@strompost.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:24:13 +0000
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT



>From the desk of:Peter Udo Chambers (Solicitor & Advocate)25 Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
My Dear,
I humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail, if the content does not meet with your personal and business ethics, I apologize in advance. I am Barrister Peter Udo, (SAN) a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to late Mr. David, a foreigner, who was a contractor with Shell Development Oil Company. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of August 2006, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Lagos-Port Harcourt Road; unfortunately they lost their lives in the event of the crash.
My client deposited the sum of $7.5Million US dollars in a Finance Company here in Lagos, Nigeria. And since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives to no avail. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated by the Finance Company.
The Finance Company where the deceased had deposited these funds has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the funds confiscated within the next thirty official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds this deposit valued at $7.5Million US dollars (Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) can be handed over to you and then you and I can share the money.
I will get necessary legal documents that will be used to backup this claim in your name as the beneficiary of the fund. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Await your urgent reply, send me your private telephone number to enable us discuss further about this transaction.
Best Regards,Barrister Peter Udo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam