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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: HENRY HALLS <hallshenry@walla.com>
Reply-To: henryhalls@walla.com
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:34:58 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL!!


Dear Friend,

FUND RELOCATION FOR INVESTMENT.

Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the
Information gathered from our Accounts Department, I
Have the privilege to request for your assistance to
Transfer the sum of $18,600,000.00 (eighteen
Million, six hundred thousand United States dollars)
into your accounts.

The above sum resulted from an over-invoiced
Contract, executed, commissioned and paid for about
Five years (5) ago by a foreign contractor through our
bank.

This action was however intentional and since then
The fund has been in a suspense account at the Bond
Financial Services Group. We are now ready to transfer
The fund overseas and that is where you come in.

It is important to inform you that as civil servants,
We are forbidden to operate a foreign account; that
Is why we require your assistance.

The total sum will be shared as follows: 70% for us,
25% for you and 5% for local and international
expenses incident to the transfer.

The transfer is risk free on both sides. I am an
accountant with the Bond Financial Services Group.

If you find this proposal acceptable, we shall require
The following documents:

Your banker's name, telephone, account and fax
numbers.

Your private telephone and fax numbers -for
confidentiality and easy communication.

Your full name and address

We will furnish you with a breakdown explaining,
Comprehensively what we require of you. The business
will take us ten (10) working days to accomplish.

Please reply urgently to Email-: henryhalls@walla.com

We look forward to your positive response
Yours sincerely,
Henry Halls
henryhalls@walla.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam