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)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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.
  • +447045700212 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • franciscar_flixx69@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "EDWARD SMITH" <edward03@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: edwardsmith_smith009@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 02:27:34 -0700
Subject: Re:


Attention: My Dear Friend,
I have a very good news for you, which is that of your Cash Box that was
prevented entry into United States and impounded by the United States
Authority has be returned back to the U.K.


We were able to retreive the package out from the British Customs with the
assistance of my contact person at the Queen Palace here in Britian, who
made the British Customs to believed that Cash funds was for United Nation`s
Charity from the Burgham Palace, entrusting under your custody.


The cash funds amounting to the sum U.S$15 Million was deposited with a
security Company in Spain under your name being the beneficiary. You are
advised to get back to me immediately you receive this mail and forward your
mailing address/phone number as to enable me submit it to the Security
Company to start processing for the Delivery to you. You can as well reach
the Security Company and forward the information direct to them, as they
already knows you as the beneficiary of the Consignment.

So, below is the person incharge of the consignment in Spain.

Mr. Carlos Young,
Email: franciscar_flixx69@yahoo.fr
(Head Of Operator) Flixx Express Courier Company Spain.

Please note that I had an understanding with this follow in Amsterdam that
you are to offer him 5% of the total money immediately the consignment is
delivered to you.

Please do call me through my direct telephone number: Tel:+44 704 570
0212. to enable us talk.

I expect your immediate respond.

Thanks and God Bless You.

Mr.Edward Smith
Tel:+44 704 570 0212.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam