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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. PETER JOHN" <mr.peter_j2@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: johnmr.peter@yahoo.com.ar
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 11:08:57 -0700
Subject: ATTN: BENEFICIARY,


*MR. PETER JOHN*

*(NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION)*

*I will like to solicit for your assistance, but not to compel you to honor
it I am Mr. Peter Okey, the Chairman of the Contract Procurements and Award
in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of the Petroleum
Ministry. I got your contact while searching for a capable foreign
assistance, who can receive, accommodate this huge sum of money.*

* *

*There is an over-invoiced contract sum of (Thirty Two Million, Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars only) awaiting payment to a foreign
contractor. I inflated the original contract sum to make this difference,
which the original contractor has been paid upon completion of his contract
project leaving this amount which I and my colleagues has worked out perfect
modalities to transfer into your account without any impending risk. This
US$32.5M is now waiting to be transferred to the Sub-Contractor which I will
now purport your company to be so that you can receive the money on our
behalf.*

* *

*I appeal to you to be of good assistance to us by providing an account to
lodge this money, possibly a virgin bank account. To do this, I need your
total sincerity. Hence you have rendered this assistance in good faith to a
success, we will offer you 25% of the US$32.5M, 5% for expense, while my
colleagues and I keep the remaining 70%. I will appreciate every effort you
will afford to enable us achieve success. Most especially, we need your
urgent response to this, so send an email for more details on your
convenience. *

* *

*Anticipating your prompt response.*

* *

*Thanks,*

* *

*MR. PETER JOHN*

*THE CHAIMAN TENDER/CONTRACT PROCURMENT DEPT. (NNPC)*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam