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:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22993489858 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • doraphil@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.ONWA Tibe" <onwatibe05@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: onwatibe@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:05:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Please pray for me while you contact my secretary for your cashier
check.


My Dear,

I crave your indulgence at this mail coming from somebody you have not known before but I believe I have been destined to be of blessing to you.

I am MR ONWA TIBE former director of Benin Cement Company.I am presently in Spain where I am under going treatment.

I want you to contact my secretary in Benin Republic,her name is MISS DORATHY PHILIPS using her email address doraphil@yahoo.fr or telephone + 229 93 48 98 58.

Instruct her to send you the sum of ($800,000) Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars in Cashier Check which I kept for you.

I cannot predict what will be my fate by the time you will receive the fund seeing that I am in a very critical condition here in the hospital that is why I ask you to assist me in your prayers.

MR ONWA TIBE



---------------------------------
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