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:
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • francisapa0000@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Francis Apa" <francissapaa@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: francisapa0000@myway.com
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 13:27:22 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION! ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!!





Dear Friend,

My name is Francis Apa one of the special assistant to former president of
Liberia Charles Taylor. Before now I was a member of the cabinet in previous
years before he resigned by the intervention of united nation for peace and
stability in the country of Liberia. We are presently now in the west coast
of Africa were the Government has graciously offered us political asylum but
our movements is completely restricted because my boss Mr. Charles Taylor
will face trial in the world court for atrocity he committed while he was in
power in Liberia.

However in the previous years I was in service in his government I made
secret deposits of valuable cash worth TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE MILLON
DOLLER and other Jewelry into the vaults of a classified security vault
company known s Diplomatic Courier Finance Limited on behalfof President
Taylor with specific instructions. I am sorry to say this now because the
law of comma has hooked with my boss as United Nation and the American
Government has freeze all his assets world wild with the exception of the
TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE MILLON DOLLER because I deposited the money on
my name and not on my boss name. My intention now is to freight this money
and other valuables0 out of Liberia anonymously to a trusted foreigner who
can receive the consignment on my behalf; I assure you that there is
absolutely no risk to you because nobody knows of the existence of these
funds. If this offer is acceptable to you please contact me immediately also
on this email address: francisapa0000@myway.com For more information you can
take look at the web site below.

Regards,
Mr. FrancisApa

http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-06-21-voa55.cfm
http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/rr/blrr_rob_taylor.htm
http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/west_africa/0,2172,106513,00.html
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-05-25-voa2.cfm
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-05-03-voa75.cfm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/07/0725_030725_liberiataylor.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam