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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
  • colinsbill71@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "bowell2 Gazeta.pl" <bowell2@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 00:43:48 +0200
Subject: Contact Him Immediately.


Dear Friend, How are you today?




Hope all is well with you and your family?, You may not understand why this
mail came to you.But if you do not remember me, you might have receive an
email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar business proposal
which we never concluded. I did not forgot your past effort by

trying to help me, now I want to tell you that i have suceeded in getting
those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from London.
Contact my secretary in Cotonou De federal Republic of Benin because I have
left the whole instruction to him

on your behalf and instruct him where to send the USD$1.2Million with out
any further delay for your compensation. PERSON TO CONTACT:
His name is:MR COLINS; Bill..
Email : colinsbill71@yahoo.it

At this moment,I'm very busy here in London,Because of the investment
projects, which the new partner and I are having at hand. NOTE:You are
advised to stop any further communication with your local
representative(s)any officials (s) department whom may call you or email
concerning the

cheque draft what sum of USD$1.2Million,ecept Mr.COLINS,You are advise not
to accept any fax or telephone calls that does not come from him. Because he
is the only person I left the order how to deliver the cheque draft to you,
and you may call him immediately you received this message for more
information through the instruction I left. Regards,

CHARLES OBI.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam