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:
  • "million pounds" (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: "butrus ofori" <butrusofori@gmx.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:12:18 +0100
Subject:


Friendly Greetings,

 We are a Corporate Financial Service Provider in West Africa. We had a
Customer who deposited (5.250 million pounds with one of our affiliate bank
and eventually Died in a plane crash in 2002 without any reference to the
trace of the relatives or next of kin.

 In accordance with the West African Trust and Federal Laws, at the
Expiration of 6 (six) years, his investments with our Financial Trust
Shall  revert to ownership of the government of the country of the said
Investments if nobody applies as the next of kin to claim the 
investments.

 Since you share the same surname with this client, I want to present You
to stand in as the next of kin so that you and I can benefit from this
investment equally (i.e. 40% for you and 55% for me and my colleagues while
5% for re-imbursement of expenses incured). I guarantee that this will be
executed under legitimate arrangement that will
protect Us from any breach of the law.

 If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly indicate your full Interest
by send to me as below to my confidential email
(butrusofori@latinamail.com)

 Full Name:......................................................
Contact Home Address:...................................
State/City:.....................................................
Zip Code:.......................................................
(NB: No Postal Address Please)
Country:.........................................................
Occupation:....................................................
Post Held:........................................................
Contact Phone Number:...................................
Gender:............................................................
Marital Status:.................................................
Age:....... Nationality:.......................................
Annual turn over:..............................................

 Be remitted. I will instruct you on the next step to take.

 With friendly greetings,

 MR Butrus Ofori.


Nb: The information contained in this e-mail may be confidential and is
intended solely for the use of the named addressee Access, copying or
re-use of the e-mail or any information contained therein by any other
person is not authorized. If you are not the intended recipient please
notify us immediately by
returning the e-mail to the originator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam