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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "million british 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • +447031905868 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Chang Yang" <mr.chang_yang1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mr.chang_yang@london.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:58:23 +0000
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE .







HARLEQUIN CHAMBERS
Barristers, Solicitors & Notaries Public
45 St.Georges Drive,London SW1V 4BJ ,United Kingdom.





STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.





Dear Sir/Madam,

Firstly, not to cause you any embarrassment ,I am Attorney Chang Yang a London (UK) based Lawyer and the personal attorney to late Mr. Dick Hall a national of the United States who used to be a private contractor with the shell petroleum Development Company in Saudi Arabia, herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2005 he and his wife with their two kids were involved in an auto crash which claimed their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries with his country's embassy to locate any of my late client's extended relatives and this has also proved unsuccessful, after these several unsuccessful attempts I decided to contact you with this business partnership proposal to assist in repatriating a huge amount of money left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit was lodged.

The deceased had a deposit valued presently at BPS 6.5 million British Pounds Sterling and the bank has issued me a notice to provide a next of kin or beneficiary by will otherwise have the account confiscated with the next thirty official working days .

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / will beneficiary to the deceased so that we can proceed to claim to the funds (BPS 6.5 million) presently in the bank.

This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 70% for me 30% for you, I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to Back up any claim and the Certificate Of Deposit has been issued to me by the bank so all I need and require from you is your honest co-operation, confidentiality and trust to enable us see this project through .I guarantee you that this will be executed under a Legitimate Arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message by e-mail as I am based in the United Kingdom and please Provide me the following below; this is to enable me commence immediate preparation of all legal document that will back up our claim.


1. Full Name2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number.3. Your Contact Address4. Age 5. Occupation


Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,


Barrister Chang Yang, Esq , Direct Tel: +44-703-190-5868







Copyright © 2007 The British Attorneys Association.
All rights reserved.



_________________________________________________________________
Telly addicts unite!
http://www.searchgamesbox.com/tvtown.shtml

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam