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:
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
  • "transaction is 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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mathew Barret <mathewbarret2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrmathewbarret@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:37:03 +0000
Subject: Investment Enquiry




My Dear, This letter is strictly for your attention and for your personal use only, I know this may come to you as a surprise, for the fact we have not met. I am Mathew Barret, Financial Consultant with the U.K Maritime and Coast Guard Agency (MCA)http://www.infomarine.gr/england/index.html. Following my retirement plans towards end of this year 2008; I have planed and secured funds for my retirement age and for future investment in the real estate and any profitable business in your country. To this effect, I have cash deposited with a security firm, which the information is here with me to forward to you on your acceptance to work with me as partner, it is not going to cost you any of your personal money, only follow my directives to get receive this fund into your account. However, the amount in question is to the tune of US12.6 Million Dollars, l need your assistance to receive these funds into your account for safekeeping prior to my arrival to your country with my family for my share, since I have the zeal to invest and retire outside this country, towards end of this year 2008. Please keep this letter to your heart and reply to me urgently to enable me disclose to you more details and other steps to be taken to ensure a smooth transfer process. This transaction is risk free and attracts no atom of criminalities. Please let me know urgently if you can be of help. From the proceeds of this transaction you will be entitled to 30% While 70% will be for me. Awaiting your kind response. Sincerely,

Mathew Barret.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam