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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "georgeudeh01" <georgeudeh01@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 15:01:51 +0000
Subject: FAMILY BUSINESS INVESTMENT OFFER


>From George Udeh

FAMILY BUSINESS INVESTMENT OFFER

Greetings,

In appreciation of your esteemed contact received through a reliable
source and the choice of your country I wish to introduce myself, I
am George Udeh a national of Mali the son of the late Daniel Udeh of the
blessed memory. I know thisletter might come to you as a surprise but I
honestly do not intendto surprise you. I write this letter in respect of
my intention to invest the sum of US$8M (Eight Million United State
Dollars)with you.

I inherited this money from my mother. This money was got
through the smuggling and sale of Diamond and Timber when my father
was the traditional head of my town.

My mother though not her legal wife used her privilege position to
engage in the business of Diamond and Timber since she knows that her
survival will depend on how much she can get out of the privilege
situation. When my father was assassinated on 16th Jan. 02 by one of
his bodyguards Rashidi Kasereke through the conspiracy of some top
traditional chiefs that wanted to topple him I escaped to United Kingdom
because of the fear that I might be arrested by my half brother
Joseph Udeh the present head of our town.

Actually his mother and my mother are not in the best of relationship
because of who among them will be the first lady tussle and this
ultimately affected us their children. baesd on this, my mother advised
me to leave Mali for security reason, while the funds were deposited
with a Security Company in Togo.

On getting to United Kingdom where I have been living since then as a
political refugee I am seeking for a reliable foreigner who can
assist me in moving this money out for safe banking and profitable
investment. Honestly I contacted you because I don't want to invest
this money in United Kingdom due to my status here as a political
Refugee.

And moreover I wouldn't want to take risk because this money
is all that I and my Mother is depending on because My half brother
has seized all my father's assets and money and left I and my mother
empty handed without knowing about this funds deposited at the
Security Company in Togo so that is why I decided that investing
this money abroad should be the best investment for me. I will be
honored if I can be given the privilege of investing this money with
your help.

In view of this plight, I expect you to be trustworthy and kind
enough to respond to this distress call to save my mother and I from
a hopeless future. And if you agree, I hereby agree to compensate
your sincere and candid effort in this regard with 20% of the total
money and annual 5% of the after tax returns on investment for the
first three years.

Thereafter, the term shall be varied. 5% for expenses, which may arise
during the transaction, fax and phone bills inclusive. $8million US
Dollars. when the money ($8million) is moved into your discrete account,
you will be allowed to draw 20% your favor, while the remaining 70% will
be invested meaningfully for our future if possible in your area of
business and deterrents sectors of the Economy in your country which are
dividends yielding
.
Whatever your decision is please reach me immediately through my
Email and keep this letter tight secret for the interest of my
family.

Best Regards,
GEORGE UDEH (for the family)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam