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:
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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.
  • +22997530816 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: iduubaba@microcamp.com.br
Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 14:48:07 -0300
Subject: Contact the SKY VIEW COURIER COMPANY


Hello Dear,I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of Eko
Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will
expire.So i told him to cash $800,000.00 all the necessary arrangement of
delivering the $800,000.00 in cash was made.So contact the SKY VIEW COURIER
COMPANY.Please write a letter of application immediately to the given address
below.And don't let them know the content to avoid delaying delivery
ok.ATTN:DR KALU HILARYTEl:
+229-9753-0816EMAIL:skyviewcompany2@yahoo.frPlease, Send them your contacts
information to enable them locate you immediately they arrive in your country
with your BOX (fund).This is what they will need from you. 1.YOUR FULL
NAME..............2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS............3.YOUR CURRENT HOME
TELEPHONE NUMBER............4.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE............5.YOUR
COUNTRY...............SincerelyIduu Baba
_________________________________________________________
Microcamp

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam