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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: carrmike1@post.ro
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 02:45:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Contact my secretary immediately.


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:mrtonydavis222@yahoo.com.co



- Dear Friend,This might sound strange to you but go through it as it might interest you as the Lord directed me to contact you. I hope all is well together with your family, if so glory be to God almighty. Well, Sorry to hear this news and understand that the fault is not from me. I’m happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Japan. Presently I'm in Japan for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I didn't forget you’re past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring this fund despite that it failed us some how. Now contact my secretary (Carr Mike) in Nigeria on e-mail address(carrmike1@post.ro) Ask him to send you the total Amount of 2,500,000.00 us dollars which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I ppreciated our efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touch with my ecretary and instruct him where to send the cheque as you know it was issued in a certified bank draft cheque which you will cash in any bank approved or owned by government of any country.Please do let me know mmediately if you cash the money so that we can share the joy together after all the suffer ness at that time. Right now, I am very busy here because of the investment projects, which me and the new partner are having at hand. Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the secretary on your behalf to send the draft cheque to you immediately, so feel free to get in touch with Carr Mike ,he will send the money immediately to you without any delay. Note, below here is the required information’s you will send to my secretary:1. Your full names 2. Your house address 3. Your telephone number. Thank you and congratulations as God has done it.Best Regards, Barrister. Tony Davis (Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam