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:
  • "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)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • davidashost@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.David Ashost" <dr.davidashost1@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: dr.davidashost@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 16:55:31 +0100
Subject: Advice to reply


THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the
total sum of £10,600,000.00GBP (Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand
BritishPounds) in the codicil and last testament of the deceased(Name now
withheld since this is our second letter to you). We contacted you because
you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as the
beneficiary to the inheritance.

We therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed in
your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly
forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax
numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at
our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money.

Please contact me via my private email davidashost@yahoo.co.uk

so that we can get this done immediately.

Kind regards,

Dr.David Ashost.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam