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:
  • "million 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 "dying merchant" 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.
  • kmmad12@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: khalid mahmoud <kmmad12@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:20:31 -0500
Subject: Hello

I am khalid mahmoud, A Bahrain national I have been diagnosed with
Oesophageal cancer.It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and
right now I have only about a few months to live.I am very rich,but was
never generous, I have given most of my assets to my immediate family
members. I have decided to give alms to charity organizations.I cannot do
this myself anymore because of my health.I once asked members of my family
to give some money to charity organizations,they refused and kept the
money.I have a huge cash deposit of Eighteen Million dollars with a
finance House abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and
dispatch it to charity organizations.You will take out 20% of this funds
for your assistance.DO REPLY ME VIA MY PRIVATE EMAIL:kmmad12@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam