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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • bala_martins7@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: bala martins <bala.martins.2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <bala_martins7@myway.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 02:24:59 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,



SECURITY CODE: CTB-C02EXN CABLE-Cititrust _ Financebank FROM THE DESK OF: MR. BALA MARTINS CITITRUST FINANCE BANK. MODERN ROAD,2ND AVENUE, MARYLAND, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. Dear Friend, Before I start, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you. I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to establishing a relationship, but you will realize the reason for my action after going through this email. My name is Bala Martins, the Managing Director of the CITITRUST FINANCE BANK CFB. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank (Anthony P Tidwell of your country) who had a plane crash and died (NOT MARRIED) on 4th of May 2002 in a local plane crash at KanoState, which enrooted from sokoto to Abuja (the capital city of Nigeria), all occupants in the Plane lost their lives, unfortunately on this same flight were other dignitaries like the former Nigeria Sports Minister and a host of others. The following websites could be referenced: http://www.usafricaonline.com/ngrkanocrash.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm There is an account opened in my bank in the year 1996 by this great late INDUSTRIALIST/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR who died without a written or oral WILL attached to the account. Since his death, I have personally watched and waiting with keen interest to see the next of kin but no one has come or show-up to be his next of kin to claim his fund, and no other person knows about this account or anythingconcerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and until his death and he was also the manager of his company. The banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than two years without claim, hence the money will be recalled to the Government treasury as unclaimed after this long period of dormancy. It is in light of these development that I am compelled to seek your indulgence and active participation in a well thought out scheme for you to act as the NEXT OF KIN and foreign beneficiary of the fund from the deceased, since no one has come up to be the next of KIN. The total amount involved is $11,560,000 Million (US DOLLARS). I wish to start the first transfer with half of the total fund and upon successful transaction without any disappointment from your side; you shall re-apply for the transfer of the remaining balance into your account. Should my proposal appeal to you, and upon the receipt ofyour reply, I can obtain and manipulate all vital document necessary for a successful transfer of the fund into your bank account. I will also send you detailed information about the transaction. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is 100% risk free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized within 14 banking days, after you apply to the bank as the beneficiary of the fund from the deceased. I look forward to your quick response. Let trust and honesty be our watch ward. Please endevour to send your reply to bala_martins7@myway.com Best Regards. Mr. Bala Martins.
_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam