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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "the help of diplomats" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • mr_davideze10@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: davideze888@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:45:15 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Dear=20Theodore=2E?=

FROM THE DESK OF
MR.DAVID EZECHIMA.
Cemac Bank of Africa plc.
(Bank For International Settlement)
Headquarters Complex Cotonou,
Republic of Benin.
PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE
E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW:
(mr_davideze10@yahoo.fr).

Dear Theodore.

MY NAME IS MR.DAVID EZECHIMA.

Iam the head of Operations Cemac Bank of Africa plc.
Sometime in 1986, a certain man Mr.kelly smith brought a luggage marked
family treasure to me for safe-keeping in our bank.I met the man in 1980
in America and he introduced himself as a SHIP CAPTAIN.

We became intimate more when he realized my profession,there and then, he
informed me about the consignment. However, I did not take it so serious
not until he brought the box to my office.I assisted him in depositing the
treasure and CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT issued to him.However,he saw me as someone
trustworthy and decidedto hand-over the document to me for safe-keeping.
He left back to his country, though he is always on the Sea being a Sailor.

All our correspondence was through telephone.Our discussion stopped since
last year when I called his telephone number, and behold someone else had
bought over the telephone. the new subscriber told me that Mr. kelly smith
died along-side, his wife and only two children at the World Trade Centre
during the BIN-LADEN bomb blast, in America.

This news shocked me so much that MR. kelly smith did not leave any of his
contact address or next of kin,and since then all plans to trace any of
hisrelatives proved abortive.Honestly, I became confused, and resorted to
informing my colleague in the office, who suggested that we should open
the box a little to know the content proper.

The box was carefully opened and GUESS WHAT? BILLS OF ONE HUNDRED UNITED
STATE DOLLARS, denomination carefully defaced. I and my colleague agreed
and secretly took the box out from the bank anddeposited it with a security
company here. We have concluded plans to nvest the money total eight million
five hundred thousand united states dollars $4.8m(USD) out of cotonou republic
of benin and required an assistance from a Would-be Trustworthy Over-Seas
Partner who will help us receive the money overseas.

If you can assist us, we can arrange and bring the money to your country
by the help of Diplomats, for investment. I and mycolleague has agreed to
give you 40% of the total sum. Be rest-assured that the transaction is 100%
risk-free and your urgent response is highly needed.So we cannot look for
another person.

PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW:
(mr_davideze10@yahoo.fr).

With my Best regards,

MR.DAVID EZECHIMA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam