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:
  • "anti-terrorist certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +447024068305 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • 3aengrgeorge@fsmail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 20:25:47 +0000
Subject: please help us


YOUR KINDNESS PLEASE!!!
BUJUMBURAM REFUGEE CAMP,
WESTERN REGION.
ACCRA-GHANA

dear sir,

I am Dan Hamoada 22 year old from Southern Sudan presently living in the
Bujumburam refugee camp here in Accra - Ghana ( Africa ), I have a
consignment box that contains$ 18 Million United States Dollars (USD $18
Million) which I inherited from my late Father as is only son. I am seeking
your assistance to be my foreign beneficiary that will helps me receive my
one metallic trunk box which is presently in London with a delivery
diplomat.

My consignment box is presently in London, the consignment got to London
through the help of a Delivery Diplomat Engr.George, who was supposed to
have delivered my consignment to my foreign beneficiary there in London,
unfortunately my foreign beneficiary had a car accident which results to his
death.


sir, all expenses have been taken care of by my former beneficiary before
the consignment left Ghana to London, since the consignment can not be
delivery to him, Engr.George has to deposit the consignment with a warehouse
over there in London and called us to inform me and my mother about the
situation.

sir, I humbly seek your assistance to get in touch with the Diplomat so that
he can be able to deliver my consignment box to you. The contact information
of the diplomat is: Name: Engr. George Frim Tel: +447024068305,
Email:<Email%3Aengrgeorge@fsmail.net>diplomatjohnson5,
Location: London Please sir, do call him and introduce your self to him as
my (Dan Hamoada) new foreign beneficiary who will receive my consignment
box.

sir, i have the following certificates/documents (attached) for my
consignment for your perusal: Certificate of Ownership, Certificate of
Deposit, Anti-Terrorist Certificate, Africa Union (AU) Certificate, Drug
Clearance, International Airport Clearance Certificate, Money Laundry
Certificate. contract bond,

Please sir, try to get back to me as soon as you contact the diplomat so
that I can inform my mother and my sister about the situation of things,
also do not disclose the contents of my consignment to the diplomat. Twenty
percent (20%) of the total funds will be given to you for your assistance
and you will help us invest the money in a profitable business there in
your country when we come over to meet with you.

I await your urgent response and i pray that God should give you the
enabling spirit to help me, my sister and my mother.

Thanks and God bless you.

Dan Hamoada
+233245665121

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam