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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Denis Coleman" <colemandenis@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: deniiscoleman002@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 13:37:01 +0000
Subject: From Denis Coleman

From Denis Coleman

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister Denis Coleman, a solicitor at law. I am the personal Attorney
to Mr. Ronald Hills a national of your country, who lived in Nigeria. Here
in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2001,my
client, was involved in a car accident along sagbama express road.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. 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 was lodged.Particularly, the CITI BANK
NIGERIA PLC where the deceased had an account valued at about US$18.6
million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have
the account confisicated within the next ten official working days. Since I
have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 4 years now I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you
have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at
US$18.6 million dollars can be paid to you.

If you agree we can discuss your percentage. I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. 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.
Awaiting your response.

Best regards,
Denis Coleman

_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now!
http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam