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:

• 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.
  • mikeato@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike Ato" <mikeato6@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 08:27:10 +0000
Subject: Repond Soonest!

My Valued One

I am Mr. Mike Ato, a Regional Branch Manager, Amalgamated Bank ltd,
Ghana, West Africa. I write you this letter in good faith and trust
and hope you will not feel embarrassed as why I contacted you. I
have that conviction to contacted you hoping all will be fine with
your full co-operation.

I am in control of the sum of two million, eight hundred
and fifty thousand US dollars ($2,850,000),an excess profit
made by our regional branch in the last two quarter of the year
2004/2005. I have carefully placed the fund in an Escrow Call
Deposit Account and did not declare it to my head office,
while accounting for the end of the year fiscal profits. I want
to move the fund out here immedaitely for investment in your country.

Can I really trust you to hold this money for me until I
arrive your country and pick it up myself and you deduct 30%
of the total money as your remuneration? If you accept my
offer you can contact me immediately. If you do not accept
can you forget I contacted you?

I want you to get me a good current account in your
country where I can move this money. I will discreetly give
you all the information concerning the account so that you
can apply to our Head Office for the transfer of the money
to your account.

You shouldn't be afraid, as it will be just a smooth
bank-to-bank transfer. There is practically no danger to
your person.

I am hoping for your perfect understanding of my situation
and position.

Happy Prosperous New Year

Thanks
Mike
Preferably write to:mikeato@excite.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam