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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "erik madu" <erikmadu01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: erikmmadu1@myway.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:15:16 +0000
Subject: URGENT

FROM THE DESK OF:
DR.ERIK MADU.
ACCOUNTANT.
FIRST BOND BANK OF NIG. PLC.,
V/ISLAND LAGOS.

ATTN:SIR/MA

I am Dr.ERIK MADU. an accountant with the FIRST BOND BANK OF NIG. PLC
and I need your assistance in remmitting a huge ammount of money to
your bank account this money which originally belongs to Mr. Charles
Fredrick a national of your country who until his death was an employee
with Shell Oil Company in Nigeria,he died in Plane Crash with
members of his families 5 years ago,since then we have made several
enquiries to your embassy to locate any of the extended relatives and
this has proved unsuccessful.

After several unsuccessful attempts I decided to track his name over
the Internet to locate any member of his family. I have contacted you
to assist in repatriating the money leftbehind by Mr.Charles Fredrick
declares it unserviceable.

Note that after final discusions with one of my superior in the TELEX
DEPARTMENT we arrived at contacting you as the next of kin to claim
this fund into your nominated bank account before the account is
declared confiscated,note also that this transfer will be concluded
within the next (7) seven official working days.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased
so that the $15million dollars can be remmitted to youur account and
then we can share the money,25% to you and 70% for us, while 5%
willtake care of all expenses that might be incured on the course of the
transfer. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see
this deal through.

I advise that you send across to me your contact address,direct phone
and fax number for prompt communication, and Iguarantee you that this
transaction will be executed under a legitimate atmosphere that will
protect you from any breach of transaction / law.

Regards,

DR.ERIK MADU.
ACCOUNTANT.
(FIRST BOND BANK OF NIG. PLC).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam