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:
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "you will take 25%" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "a diplomat " ("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.
  • pascal_kolo77@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "PASCAL KOLO" <pascal_kolo77@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 16:18:28 +0100
Subject: Dearest,

Dearest, I want to use this opportunity to introduce my self to you. I am the SON of Mr ROGER KOLO, from Liberia. My father was the formal Director of Gold and Diamond Resources of Liberia, he was killed by Charles Taylor rebels in my country. Before my father died, he succeeded by depositing a trunk box contain 7.5 Millions Dollars in one of the Security company here in Côte d’Ivoire, he declared the consignment as African Arts & Diamonds for security reason's. Now I have this fund to invest in your country as the next of kin, I need your assistance because I can't handle the money properly based on my age and I need someone like you who has experience in business so that the money will be invest on profitable investment, I want you to show your interest immediately you received this message by contacting me for this legal transaction. After the successful transfer of this fund into your account, you will take 25% of the total amount of the money and 75% will be for me and w
ill be manage by you on my behalf in your country. After the money have been in your country, I will do my travelling documents to meet you, to continue my education. This transaction is 100% risk free. So contact me immediately through this email address : (pascal_kolo77@yahoo.com) and also forward me your full name and address and your telephone numbers which I will use to submit to the security company for the release of the consignment. Due to my age, that is why I need your assistance . As soon as the consignment release from the security company, the fund will be transferring through bank or we make a good arrangement with a diplomat to ship the consignment directly to your doorstep in your country. I need your urgent response towards this matter. Thanks and remain bless. PASCAL KOLO.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam