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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • barr_roland100@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barr Roland Davids <dr_makatim2@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: barr_roland100@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:42:59 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ROLAND DAVID & CO. CHAMBERS


ROLAND DAVID & CO. CHAMBERS
15/399 PORT NOVO AVENUE COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC
EMAIL:barr_roland100@yahoo.co.uk

Attention Please,

I know that this will come to you as a surprise as you do not know me but I believe that this will form the genesis of a long lasting relationship between us. Let me introduce my self and the reason why I write you, I am Barrister. Jejeti Roland David, Solicitor and Personal Attorney to Mr. Dennis Seeber, an indigene of your country who used to work as a Contractor with Diamond Melting & Mineral Exporting company, Cotonou,Benin Republic.

On the 21st of April 2000, my client was involved in a car accident along the Cotonou High way unfortunately, he lost his live in the event of the accident, and is survived by an adopted child whom is living with me due to some circumstances, this has prompted me to contact you, I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I came across your name and I decided to contact you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the firm where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the security firm where the deceased had a deposit valued at about $18 million Dollars (Eighteen Million Dollars). Consequently, the Security Company issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the deposit
declared recovered treasure and diverted to the company treasury.

Since I have been unsuccessful to locate the relatives for some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are the same country that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you for both of us to share the money; 60% to me and 35% to you, 5% to charity. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up the claim. I will provide you with more information on this as we progress.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate time and arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter. Trusting to hear from you immediately to enable us discuss further.

Best regards,
Barrister. Roland David (ESQ).
Direct Email: barr_roland100@yahoo.co.uk


---------------------------------
Your Yahoo! Mail address is precious. Protect it with our ingenious new AddressGuard tool.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam