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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348033705489 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • thamos_bank5051@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?thamos=20bankole?= <thamos_bank5051@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: thamosbank@myway.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 07:45:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU?


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: thamos_bank5051@yahoo.com



- Dear Sir,I am MR THAMOS BANKOLE. from the First Bank ofNigeria Plc,Lagos Branch.I got your contactthrough.the internet I have urgent and veryconfidential business proposal for you. OnJune 6, 1999, an America Oil consultant/contractorwith the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,Mr.Charles Ballassi made a numbered time (fixed) depositfor twelve calendar months, valued atUS$30,Million(thirthy million dollars )in my branchupon maturity.I sent a rountine notification to his forwardingaddress but got no reply.After a month,wesent a reminder and finally we discovered from hiscontract employers,the Nigerian National PetroleumCorporation that Mr.Charles Ballassi died in theplane crash of 31 October 1999[with Egyptian (990)with other passengers aboard.on further investigation, i found out that he diedwithout making a WILL, and attempts to trace his nextof kin was fruitless.I therefore made furtherinvestigation and discovered that Mr. Charles Ballassidid not declare any next of kin or relations in allhis officia
l documents,including his bank depositpaperwork in my bank.This sum ofUS$30m is still in my bank and the interestis being rolled over with the pricipal sum at the endof each year. No one will ever come forward to claimit.Accordingto Nigerian law, at the expiration of(five)years, the money will revert to the ownership ofthe Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim thefund. Consequently,my proposal is that i will like youas a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr.Charles Ballassi so that the fruit of this old man'slabour will not get into the hands of some corruptGovernment officials.This is simple, I will like you to provide immediatelyyour full name and address so that the Attorney willpreparethe necessary documents and affidavits whichwill put you in place as the next of kin.We shallemploy the service of two attorney for the draftingand notarization of the WILL and obtain the necessarydocuments and letter of probate/administration in yourfavour for the transfer.Any banka ccount in any partof th
e world which you will provide will thenfacilitate the transfer of this money to you as thebeneficiary/next of kin.The money will be paid into your account for us toshare in ratio of 60% for me and 30% for you.There is no risk at all, the paperwork for thistransaction will be done by the attorney and myposition as the Branch Manager guarantees thesuccessful execution of ths transaction. If you areinterested,please reply immediatelyvia the private email address below,upon yourresponce,i shall provide you with more details andrelevant documents that will help you understandthe transaction.Please observe utmost confidentiality and be restassured that this transaction would be most profitablefor both of us because i shall require your assitanceto invest my share in your country. Please upon thereciept of this mail, send to me the following toenable start the process of the fund into your bankaccount:1. Your full Name and address 2. The name of your bankname,address and account number3. Your private Telephone an
d fax numbersAwaiting your urgent reply,you are free to call me on my telephone number(+234-8033705489)Thanks and regards,MR THAMOS BANKOLE.MANAGER,FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA Plc

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam