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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <oluwa161bob@live.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:05:00 -0600
Subject: GET IN TOUCH WITH BOB TODAY


Attention,

Prominent User of the Internet How are you today? Hope all is well with you
and your family?I hope this mail meets you in a perfect
condition. This is to inform you that a total cash prize of US $900,000.00
Dollars, given to the first FIFTY (50) people who will be
compensated in this world internet Programs.All participants were selected
randomly from Worldwide Web site through computer draw system
and Extracted from over 100.000 companies I am using this opportunity to
thank you for using the internet daily.

Due to your effort, using internet programs indoor and in your office, we
want to compensate you and show our Gratitude to you with the sum
of $900,000.00 United States of America Dollars we have authorized Mr. OLUWA
BOB in capital city ABUJA nigeria to assist you in getting
your compensation checks across to you. The name and contact address with
you want your cheque to be delivered to.

Mr. OLUWA BOB is as follows;
COMPENSATION HEAD OFFICE
CONTACT AGENT: Mr. OLUWA BOB
EMAIL: oluwa161bob@live.com

Finally remember that I have forwarded instruction to Mr.OLUWA BOB on your
behalf to send the cash prize of Nine Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars to you as soon as you contact him with your Delivery address
and Telephone numbers without delay.

Mrs. ROSS TIMS
Presidential Library & Museum
Former Director International Online
Lottery Co-coordinator. © 2008 WORLD
INTERNET PROGRAMS®

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam