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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: CAPTAIN EZUZURU <captezuzuru1@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 13:22:59 +0400
Subject: GET BACK TO ME


Dear Sir,

It's my pressure to communicate with you through this medium connection =
although we have not met or seen each other even for the first time, but I =
believe that as a business man we should not only expect business from only =
known people.

I know it is very hard to trust anybody these days based on the high volume =
of scammer and fraud in this period of time, but we can not run away from =
business just because we are afraid to loose money or to fall into wrong =
hands.

My name is Mr. Phillip Ezuzuru, from Bourkinafaso in west African, I am a =
Captain so you call me Captain Ezuzuru, I am driving ship to many countries, =
even right now I am mailing you from the ship, I got your contacts in U.A.E =
business Directory that is in my Ship and decided to seek for your =
cooperation, and also ask for your assistance in investment.

I discovered a box in my ship last two months, the box contain money, but the =
money is in coded form, I quickly removed the box and hand it over to my =
brother in my country because I am very busy man, and I don't used to waste =
much time any day I visit my country, the document I found in this box made =
me to understand that the total amount of the found is $8.5 million dollars, =
now I am in the ship on the sea, I will like you to receive this money and =
help my brother and my son which I will send to you, invest it in a joint =
business.

Why I leave this money up till this time is to know if the owner will look =
for it but no one appears, so I strongly believe that is one of these =
governments' corrupt officials own the money but he don't want raise alarm to =
avoid him having problem with his government.

So I need your urgent response as to enable me know what to do, I am looking =
forward to hear from you,

Regards,

Captain Ezuzuru.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam