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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "loan amount" (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • mrmarkus@cooperation.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "OSENI Mr. M"<bensonxx18@freenet.de>
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:57:07 +0100
Subject: Expecting your urgent response.


Hello Dear Friend,

We offered Grant of US$250 million dollar for
Farmers, Ranchers, and Small scale Entrepreneur from the Directorate of
Project Development (DOPD). This Grant is for Experienced Farmers,
Ranchers and Small Scale Entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain
financing from commercial credit
sources. Loan amounts range from
$500,000.00 to $2,000,000.00 and $2,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00 (Amount
Varies Based on Applicant Capability) Ministry of National Development
(MOND) is the sponsor of this facility.


REASON FOR CONTACTING
YOU:

My name is Mr. Markus Oseni the Deputy Governor Financial
Sector Surveillance Central Bank of Benin. Last year I made an
arrangement with one Mr. Michael McNulty a national of the United State
of America in the state of Wisconsin to hold on my behalf the sum of
$15.2Million to be used for investment, the money was slated to move in
two phase of $7.5Million at each phase. We worked together and obtained
all the papers needed to transfer the first $7.5Million but as soon as
the fund was confirmed in his bank account he disconnected his phone
line 715 694 5761 and disappeared. He was staying at #45, Peterson Rd,
Black River Fall, Wisconsin.

My tenure as the Deputy Governor
Financial Sector Surveillance Central Bank of Benin will very soon and I
don\'t want the opportunity I have here in making myself rich to be
wasted hence I am contacting you to work with me and keep on my behalf
for investment the balances sum
$7.7Million. As a civil servant still
under services of my government I am barred from operating foreign
account and I would not deposit this amount in my local account here
because I had declared my asset immediately I was appointed into my
present position.

I will make you my investment manager after a
commission of $2.2Million from the $7.7Million for your kind help and I
pray I will not be disappointed again. I seek for your corporation and
sincerity towards this business.

Please contact me immediately via
email: ( mrmarkus@cooperation.net ) with your complete names and
numbers (Phone and Fax) and I will get back to you explaining areas you
felt you want to know better.
Expecting your urgent response.


Yours faithfully,
Mr. Markus OSENI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam