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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: williams_egoamaka@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:51:24 +0200
Subject: LETTER



LETTER


UNION BANK PLC,
STALLION HOUSE BRANCH
MARINA, LAGOS,
NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,

Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and
may offend your personality for contacting you without your prior
consent and writing through this channel.I got your contact from the 
proffesional database found in the internet when i was searching for a
reliable foreigner who will assist me invest this fund.
 
  I am Mr.Egobia Williams of Union Bank Nig.Plc. This mail is written
to solicit your  assistance to be presented as next of kin to our
Late  customer.Mr Neal Walker. He made a fixed Deposit valued  at
USD21.5M (Twenty One Million,Five Hundred United States  Dollars Only)
with Union Bank Plc here in Nigeria.  Unfortunately he lost his life
aboard Egypt Air  Flight 990, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on
October 31,1999 and he left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin 
excepting some vital documents related to the Deposit which I have in
his deposit file in the bank.

 The Governing Body of the bank has contacted me on  this matter and I
am  yet to provide the Next of Kin to lay claim to the  Fund. Under a
clear and legitimate agreement with  you, I shall seek your consent to
be presented as the next of Kin so that the Bank will not  confiscate
this fund.

I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased
since you are at an advantage, so that the proceeds of this Bank
Account valued at US$21.5m Million Dollars can be paid to you. We
shall both share the funds.
 
  Please provid me with your phone/fax lines to enable me direct
access to communicat with you. Kindly give this matter a prompt and
quick reply using (Strictly) with email for easier and further
detailed briefing.
 
Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance  while we expect
your prompt response.

Lastly, this Transaction is Subject for Verification.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Mr.Egobia Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam