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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • ",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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • simonridley1@walla.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:41:42 -0500
Subject: ENDEAVOR TO RESPOND ASAP.


FROM THE FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT
Standard Bank
9th Floor Standard Bank Centre
5 Simmonds Street
Johannesburg .

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Simon Ridley, Director of Foreign Operations and Chief Financial
Officer of Standard Bank SA. In our current performance of Annual Account
Audit, our auditors found within our database some couple of accounts with
huge deposits that has no registered name or next of kin associated with
its record.

As the man in the helm of affairs, these files were sent to my office for
endorsement so that the deposits are transferred to the South African
Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits. I did
endorsed all but leaving one behind which I am very much familiar with; I
indicated that the one I left has a next of kin/beneficiary associated with
it but in the real sense, it has no beneficiary and this account is worth
$21,500,000.00 (Twenty-One Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars).

A private investigation was plunged and supervised by me; the result was
that the account owner had died. Further investigation for the next of kin
to the account owner proved negative as both the depositor and family were
killed in a bomb blast that hit their home in Iraq . Being in the helm of
affairs, I have the power and expertise to have these funds moved but there
has to be a recipient who must be a foreigner. I therefore seek your
consent to collaborate with me by letting me document you (through an
attorney) as the next of kin/beneficiary in position to receive the $21.5M
USD, then you and I will share the money. Should you be interested in
working with me on this, do indicate your interest by sending me your full
names, phone number and current residential address.

If you are interested kindly provide the below via email:
simonridley1@walla.com

;

FULL NAMES:
CONTACT NUMBERS:
ADDRESSS:

Regards,
Mr. Simon Ridley.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam