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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348023016471 (Nigeria, 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.
  • markanthonychambers2yk@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Mark Anthony <barrmark227@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <markanthonychambers2yk@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 18:47:29 +0000
Subject: Dear Esposito,late Engr.Mathew J.Esposito Estate,



FROM THE DESK OF: ST-MARK ANTHONY CHAMBERS {SOLICITOR AT LAW} PLOT:07 APAPA WHARF LAGOS. Email: markanthonychambers2yk@yahoo.fr TELEPHONE: +234-8023016471
Dear Esposito, I crave your indulgence as I contact you in such a surprising manner.I respectfully insist you read this mail carefully.
I am Barrister Mark Anthony, the personal attorney to late Engr.Mathew J.Esposito,a foreigner and an oil merchant/Contractor, herein shall be referred as my client, On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and their two children were involved in a ghastly auto accident along Shagamu Express Road, unfortunately, all occupants of the vehicle lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to the Embassy to see if i can locate any of my clients extended family/relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before it will get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where my late client lodged this deposits. The Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $7.5million dollars, the management has issued me a notice as the personal attorney to the deceased to provide the next of kin or they will have the account confiscated within the next 21 banking days. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same surname so that the proceeds of this account valued at $7.5million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money in the following ratio: - - 50% will be given to you for your assistance - 50% will be for me. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see that this transaction succeeds. I will like you to forward your telephone and fax numbers to me for easier communication. I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Please get in touch with me through my private email address: markanthonychambers2yk@yahoo.fr Looking forward to your positive response. Yours faithfully, Barrister Mark Anthony, Attorney @Law.Tel: +234-8023016471.
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook – together at last.  Get it now.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971033

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam