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)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: bhaipatek4@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 23:11:21 +0200
Subject: I Await Your Response

Dear Friend,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Bhai Patek, I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer and it has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give also to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia.Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be content with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Twenty Seven Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($27,450,000.00) that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I want you to help me to collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations. I have set aside 40% for your time and service.

Please reply me with honesty as soon as you receive this mail.

God be with you.
Bhai Patek.

NB: For confidential reasons you can contact me on my private email address.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam