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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • karimabu56@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Karim Abu <karim-bu304@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:43:49 +0200
Subject: Confidential


































FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF AUDITOR
STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA.Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa 2001 Our Ref: SB /054/AC/771/09 Greetings,

Please this mail demands absolute confidentiality. My Name is Mr. Karim Al-Abu, THE CHIEF AUDITOR OF THE STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA.
I have contacted you to assist me in securing the assets and Capital valued at , US$ 20 Million United states Dollar left behind by former Palestinian leader YESSAR ARAFAT who passed away.

This huge deposit was lodged as treasury bills six months before he became very ill.

Please I need your assistance to help me secure this huge deposit before the new government will start tracing all his account for possible confiscation.

Please on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the modalities for transfer to your nominated account.

I have all the necessary information’s needed to make the transfer within a short period of time.

All I require from you is your honesty. And please contact me in this

Alternative email address (karimabu56@yahoo.com) so that I can get back to you immediately.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement.

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation

Best regard, Mr. Karim Al-Abu
_________________________________________________________________
Download the latest version of Windows Live Messenger NOW!
http://get.live.com/en-za/messenger/overview

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam