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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "transfer into your 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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Felicia Orlean O'brien" <f.obrien01@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: f.obrien001@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2006 18:08:02 +0200
Subject: Dear Executive ,

There is a change of policy in our Government. The newly elected president,Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, having vowed to tackle corruption in the country has sacked all the entire staffs of FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE. She has also ordered that no one should leave the shores of the country while our accounts are being investigated. I need your assistance,I am Mrs.Felicia Orlean O'brien, from Liberia and the Director of Foreign Operations of the Ministry.
There are concealments of fund which I would want you to assist me transfer into your account. We have been banned from travelling out side the country pending the out come of our accounts that are being investigated.
Please I have the sum of $11m in a security company in senegal which I would want you to assist me transfer out.I would not know the extent the investigation would go. You will be adequately compensated after the transfer. Please this requires urgency and secrecy.I need your assistance to avoid seizure of this fund. I have made the arrangements and all I need is for you to provide an account where the money would be transfered.
There is no risk in this please but I want the money transfered before the investigation extends to Senegal.
Please get back to me as soon as possible.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs.Felicia Orlean O'brien.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam