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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Laurent Soko <laurentsoko7@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: laurentsoko1@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:06:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: A CRY FOR HELP


DEAREST ONE,

PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

My name is Laurent Soko, I am 21 years old boy. I lost my parents and my two sisters during war in my country Congo. Before death of my father he handed me over to a missionary who took me to Ghana. I am staying in a refugee camp in Ghana, but this place is not comfortable for me.

I would like to appeal to you to assist me concerning my late father's deposited in a Financial Company here in Ghana the sum of $18,500,000 (eighteen million five hundred united state dollars). I want to move out from here and come over staying with you as my guardian for life and better upbringing.

Also the condition in this camp is not conducive for me i had never been in this condition before when my late father was alive, Can I trust you to claim this money, move to your country and provide a place for me to stay with you in your country? Can I also trust you to care for me and to help me invest this money in your country? will you promise me that the moment this money is in your custody that you will not betrayed me?

If you are willing to help me, please indicate in your next mail to me and let me know so that I will give you the necessary information to enable you open up communication with the Financial Company where the money is deposited and to give you the whole document issued to my late father by the Financial Company where the fund is deposited. These documents are in my possession and they are my last hope.

Waiting to hear from you as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Laurent Soko


---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam