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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Akol Akiwa <akol.akiwa28@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <akolakiwa@excite.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:45:22 +0000
Subject: I am Mrs Lisa Akiwa



Compliment of the seasonI am Mrs Lisa Akiwa, wife of late Mr Akol Akiwa.My husband was among the people that were killed early 2006 by the military in the recent war in Darfur-Sudan. Since after his death, i ran away with my only son to Lome-Togo, I do hereby wish to ask for your assistance in urgent help that requires absolute honesty and secrecy person.My husband deposited funds with a security company in Lome-Togo,worth about US$10,000,000.00(Ten Million United States Dollars).Immediately my husband was confirmed dead, I made away with my only son to Togo,now i have contacted the security company were my husband deposited the money and they ask me come with all the document,and i have all with me here,and I have really been waiting for a more suitable time and opportunity to contact somebody concerning this. Right now, the money is in a safe place, he deposited it with a security company for safe keeping. I am using this opportunity to seek for your assistance to move this money to your country,and to be invested in your conutry,on behalf of my only son. For this business to be concluded immediately, all you need to do is to give me your full name and contact address Phone/Fax numbers.Please we can't do this on our own because we don't have account else where, moreover, we don't have any business or conpany to cover-up,this money this is why we needed your assistance.I will give you the full power to manage the money on behalf of my son in your country.I shall forward to you the certificate of deposit when i receive your reply.Yours faithfully, Mrs Lisa Akiwa
_________________________________________________________________
News, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. Get it now!
http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam