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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
  • grace_0w@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: gracex.williams@yahoo.com (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:25:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: From Sister(Mrs).Grace Williams

>From Sister(Mrs).Grace Williams
Abidjan , Ivory Coast ,West Africa

Dearest in the lord,

I am Mrs Grace A.Williams , from Kuwait.I am married to late Mr.Edward Williams, who worked with Kuwait Embassy in Ivory Coast for Twelve years before he died in the year 2004,after a brief illness that lasted for only five days.
We were married for Eighteen years with a duaghter (Natasha) who later died in a motor accident.Before the untimely death of my husband,we were both born again Christians(from Moslem to Christianity). And since after his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (US$2.5M )Two Million,Five hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in a General Trust Account with a prime bank in Abidjan Cote d' Ivoire.
Presently,this money is still with the bank. Following my ill health, being a victim to cancer , I have decided to donate this fund to a Christain organizations (Church) that will utilize this fund the way I am going to instruct herein, according to the desire of my late husband.
I want this fund to be used in Christain Activities like,Orphanages, Christain schools, and Churches for propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that giveth".
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health as well the presence of my husband's relatives around me since they do not know about this money and my late husbands vow .I don't want them to know about this development. As soon as I receive your reply, I shall give you the contact of the bank here in Abidjan. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life as well commit me into your daily prayers. Contact me on this e-mail address :(grace_0w@myway.com) , any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another Church/person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
Hoping to receive your reply immediately .
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Sister Grace Williams.
Avenue 4 Marcory residential
14 bp 211 Abidjan 14

This email has been sent from gracex, who obtained your email address from the message board at:
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/apologia



--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam