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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22995805741 (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.
  • officeinfomail123@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.James Otumba" <mrjamesotumba1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 11:57:29 +0100
Subject: Hello my good friend.


Hello my good 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 am using
this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar business has
been concluded with the assistance of another partner from Paraguay who
financed the transaction to a logical conclusion.

I thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into
your account due to one reason or the other best known to you. But I want to
inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of my bank to
my new partner's account in Paraguay that was capable of assisting me in
this great venture. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust
worthiness you shown during the course of the transaction. I want to
compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of US$900.000.00. I
have left a certified international bank draft for you worth of
USD$900,000.00 cashable anywhere in the world.

My dear friend I will like you to contact my secretary with Mr.William
Adams,on his direct email address at:(officeinfomail123@yahoo.com) Tel:+229
95 80 57 41 for collection of your bank draft. I authorized him to release
the Bank Draft to you whenever you ask him for it. At the moment,I'm very
busy here because of the investment projects, which I and the new partner
are having at hand.Please I will like you to accept this token with good
faith as this is from the bottom of my heart,Also comply with Mr.William
Adams directives so that he will send the draft to you with out any delay.

CONTACT:Mr.William Adams Email address:(officeinfomail123@yahoo.com) or (
mrwilliamadams123@live.fr) you are required to furnish him with the below
information to enable him deliver the cheque to you,

1.FULL NAMES:______________________
2.ADDRESS:_________________________
3.E-MAILADDRESS:___________________
4.TELEPHONE NUMBER:________________
COUNTRY:_____________________________

Hoping to hear from you.

Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Mr.James Otumba.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam