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:
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • david_obotoh@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "davidobotoh50@adinet.com.uy" <davidobotoh50@adinet.com.uy>
Reply-To: david_obotoh@myway.com
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 23:31:17 -0300 (UYT)
Subject: From:Mr.David Obotoh



From:Mr.David Obotoh

Attn:

PRIVATE AND URGENT.
My name is David Obotoh.I am contacting you for a business transfer of money from a deceased Client/customers Bank account.

Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that every
process here that may be of risk has been fixed, and all will be well at the end of the day. I decided to contact you due to the
urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION;

I am the account officer of a foreigner who died in an automobile crash along with his wife.There is no next-of-kin alive to make claims for this money as his heir/beneficiary to his Estate.We cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.

Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased, as all documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the funds(USD$17.5M) to be released in your favour as the beneficiary/next of kin. It may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following information if you are interested.

1.A Beneficiary Bank Account:For transfer of the funds in your name.
2. Your names, contact address,Direct Telephone and fax numbers.
I shall be compensating you with 20% of total funds (USD$17.5M) on final conclusion of this project for your assistance,and 5% will be set aside to offset all expenses incurred during/after the transaction by both parties, while the balance shall be for investment purposes.
If this proposal is acceptable by you,please endeavour to contact me immediately here:(david_obotoh@myway.com).

I await your urgent mail with your contact info.
Best of Regards,

David Obotoh

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam