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: "Ahmed Umar" <umarahmedu@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 09:49:14 -0800
Subject: In Good Faith

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
Ahmed Umar a merchant in Dubai,in the U.A.E.I have been
diagnosed with Esophageal cancer It has defiled all forms of
medical treatment,and right now I have only about a few
months to live,according to medical experts.I have not
particularly lived my life so well,as I never really cared
for anyone(not even myself) but my business.

Though Iam very rich, I was never generous,I was always
hostile to people and only focused on my business as that
was the only thing I cared for.But now I regret all this as
I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to
have or make all the money in the world.I believe when God
gives me a second chance to come to this world

I would live my life a different way from how I have lived
it.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
togive alms 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 membersof 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
contended with what I have left for them.The last of my
money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of
Fourteen Million,Two Hundred Thousand US Dollar($14,200,000)
that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad.I will
want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it
to charity organizations. I have set aside 25% for you and
for your time.

God be with you.
Ahmed Umar

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam