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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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 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)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: MR.RUFUS ADAH GEORGE <rufusadah2002@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <rufusadah2002@yahoo.no>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:03:44 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY



FROM THE DESK OF MR.RUFUS ADAH GEORGEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,GARIKI ABUJA
IMMEDIATE Release of your contract payment of US$18 million withcontract number #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/2003.
ATTENTION : THE HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR,Sir,From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Federal government of Nigeria, your name was discovered as next on the list the outstanding contractors who have not received their payment.
I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.Also note that from the record in my file your outstanding contract payment is US$18,000,000.00 million dollars(Eighteen million united states dollars) only.
Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me the following :
1)Your full name and address2) Phone, fax and mobile #.3) Company's name, position and address.4) Profession, age and marital status.
As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you by Telegraphic Wire Transfer (KTT) or Certified Bank Draft from central bank of Nigeria call me on my direct number as soon as you receive this letter for more details.
Thanks, YOURS FAITHFULLYMR.RUFUS ADAH GEORGEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
_________________________________________________________________
Discover the new Windows Vista
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=windows+vista&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam