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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • patrick_chima2001@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Patrick Chima" <patrick_chima001@msn.com>
Reply-To: patrick_chima2001@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 01:53:08 +0000
Subject: Hello...............Urgent respond

Hello,
I am an Accountant with Union Bank ,My name is Mr Patrick Chima,a Banker. I am the personal Account Manager to (ENGINEER Edward) citizen of your country,who used to work with shell Development company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client On April 21, 2000 my client, his wife, and their three children were involved in a car accident.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
  After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they Get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged,particularly the Union Bank. Where the deceased had an accountValued at about ($6 million u s dollars) has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. have the ccount confiscated within the next ten official working days.
 Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that this account valued at ($6 million u s dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me Can share the money. all the necessary documents concerning this claim are with the Bank legal department.
  All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you. from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my email   :reply to :Patrick_chima2001@yahoo.co.uk
Best regards
Mr Patrick Chima.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam