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:
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993808491 (Benin, probably a 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.
  • infort_unservicebeninworldwild40@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: watson john <watsonjohn0006@hotmail.fr>
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 20:19:44 +0100
Subject:
=?Windows-1252?Q?Contact_Un_service_courier_world_wild_ben=92in_for_your_?=
=?Windows-1252?Q?$700,000.?=



Attention,dear belove.
I write to inform you the fee for your Cheque Draft has been Paid last 2week 25/06/2007 2:30 Pm afternoon by I Secretary Watson John as was directed by my boss Barrister Emmanuel Blessing because the manager of Eko Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you it will expire,so I told him to cash the $700,000:00,all the necessary arrangement of delivering of the $700,000:00 in cash was made with UN SERVICE COURIER COMPANY WORLD WILD BENIN.
Here is the contact of the Un Service Courier Company World Wild bellow.
ATTN: Dr.Morris A Isreal TEl: : 00229-93-808-491 EMAIL: infort_unservicebeninworldwild40@yahoo.fr
Please send them your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX.This the information they need from in order to delivery your package to your address.
1.YOUR FULL NAME...2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS ....3 YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER..... 4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.......5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE.........6.COMPANY REGISTRATION NO EG58945 7.CODE NMBER 0140479
Please make sure you send this needed information to the director general Un Service Courier Company world wild in Benin Dr.Morris A Isreal with the address given to you.Note,that Global Un Service Benin Dr.Morris A Isreal don't know the contains of the Box. I registered it as a dameges of jeans returning to the retaler. They don't know it contains money to avoid them delaying with the Box.
Once again, the only fee you have to pay them is $185USD they will use to obtain insurance certificate and claims of affadvite that will prove the parcel that consist total sum of $185 belong to you be rest assure that all other fees have been paid by me.
I am waiting for your urgent response. You can even call the Director Dr.Morris A.Isreal with this line 00229-938-08491.
Thanks Mr.Watson John General Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
Téléchargez le nouveau Windows Live Messenger !
http://get.live.com/messenger/overview

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam