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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • mrofosukwame@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Ofosu Kwame" <ofosukwame4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mr_ofosukwame@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 06 Feb 2007 12:06:14 +0000
Subject: Message From Mr Ofosu

From :Mr Ofosu kwame.
Phone:+233246748665.
Fax: +233242114861.
E-mail:mrofosukwame@yahoo.com


Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Ofosu Kwame I am the regional manager of International
Commercial bank of Ghana Kanashie branch in the western region of Ghana. I
write you this proposal in good faith; I am 44 years old married with two
lovely kids. I am a devoted Christian and a man of peace.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, as the
regional manager of the International Commercial bank it is my duty to send
in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end
of each business year.

On the course of the last year 2006 business report, I discovered that my
branch in which I am the manager made Five million seven hundred and twenty
united state dollars ($5.720)usd which my head office are not aware of and
will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call escrow call
account with no beneficiary.

As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so
my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank
account and get 30% of the total funds as commission.

There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer,
and all I need from you is to stand and claim as the original depositor of
these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can
order the transfer to your designated bank account.

If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much. and I will
give you my full informations.Remember there is no risk involved I promise.

Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.
you can call me with my private number +233246748665

Yours truly
Mr. Ofosu Kwame

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam