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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • theoedwardmailbox@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: ajanabello@freenet.de
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:35:40 +0200
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF THEO BELLO???


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
Benin Ripublic
FROM THE DESK
OF theo.b. edward:
M.sc (Manager 14 Project Allocation:


ATTN DEAR,

I am a member of the contract award
committee and 14 project allocation manager, of the Department of
Minerals and Natural Resources in Benin Ripublic ; I am in search of an
agent to assist us in the transfer of ( USD11.5M ) and subsequent
investment in properties in your country. You will be required to.
(1)
Assist in the transfer of the said funds
(2) Advise on lucrative areas
for investment
(3) Assist us in purchase of properties.

If you
decide to render your service to us in this regard, 30% of the total sum
of USD11.5M will be for you.
Thank you and God bless, as I wait in
anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Send your E-mail to my
Private mailing address: theoedwardmailbox@gmail.com

Yours
Faithfully,
Theo.b. EdWARD

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam