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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31619783918 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • pieroovermar11@yahoo.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PIERO OVERMARS" <pieroovermars111@yahoo.de>
Reply-To: pieroovermar11@yahoo.de
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 07:07:50 +0100
Subject: ME AND YOU CAN DO THIS

FROM THE DESK OF PIERO OVERMARS
BUSINESS UNIT DIRECTOR (BU)
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS.
PRIVATE EMAIL: pieroovermar11@yahoo.de

RE: MUTUAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Dear Friend,

Let me start by introducing myself to you, I am Piero Overmars, Business Unit Director, ABN AMRO BANK. I saw your contact during my private search in the internet and I want to believe that you will be very honest, committed and capable of assisting in this business venture.

Firstly, let me explain the source of this funds and what you are expected to do. A foreigner, LATE DR. GERALD A. SOFFEN was an astronomer and had a functional account with the ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS until his death some years ago. The deceased Late Gerald A. Soffen banked with us and had a closing balance as at 22nd November 2000 worth 24,500,000.00 Euros (Twenty Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros). My bank now expects a next-of-ki n to claim the funds as the beneficiary. Efforts have been made by ABN AMRO BANK to get in touch with the Late Gerald A. Soffens family or relative but to no avail.

Based on the perceived possibility of not being able to locate Late Gerald A.soffens relatives, the management under the influence of our chairman and the board of directors are making arrangements for the funds to be declared unclaimed and channeled to an unknown account. It is based on this that I have contacted you to stand as the next-of-kin of Late Gerald A. Soffen so that the funds, will be released and paid into your account as the be neficiary/next-of-kin to the deceased.

All documents to enable you get the funds have been carefully worked out as I have secured documents from the different offices concerned for the smooth transfer of the fund to your nominated account. It has been agreed that you will be compensated with 30% of the remitted funds, while I keep 60% as my share and 10% is been set aside for both local and international expenses that might be incurred in actualizing this transaction.

If this proposal satisfies you, please reach me by mail : pieroovermar11@yahoo.de with the information below and call me for further clarification + 31 61 978 3918

1. Full names and mailing address
2. Nationality
3. Telephone and fax number.
4. Age
5. Marital Status

Yours faithfully,

Piero Overmars
BUSINESS UNIT (BU)
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam