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)
  • "million 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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "williams.kabor@yahoo.fr" <williams_kabor@g.pl>
Reply-To: williams.kabor@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:39:10 +0200
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING


*DEAR FRIEND,*
* *
*GREETINGS. *

* I AM MR WILLIAMS KABOR THE BRANCH MANAGER OF THE BANK OF AFRICA
,OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO.I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY PRIVATE SEARCH FOR A
RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE THIS CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION: "THE
TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF $4.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO A FOREIGN
ACCOUNT REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCIALITY.*

* FIRST I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION, BY VIRTUE OF
ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET. THOUGH I KNOW THAT
A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL MAKE ANY ONE SCEPTIC, BUT I AM ASSURING
YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY.BECAUSE,I HAVE CONFIDENCE
THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS "RISK FREE",EVERY MODALITIES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE
TO ENSURE THAT THE TRANSFER IS CARRIED OUT LEGITIMATELY ACCORDING TO THE
LEGAL PROCESS AND OUR BANKING POLICY HERE.
THEREFORE CLARIFY IMMEDIATELY IF YOU WILL BE CAPABLE TO HANDLE THE DEAL
WITHOUT FLAWS FROM YOUR SIDE TO ENABLE ME SEND TO YOU THE DETAILS OF THE
DEAL TO YOU TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY,BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THE FUND TO BE
DISCOVERED BY THE BANK AUDITORS WHO ARE TO ARRIVE IN DUE COURSE TO AUDIT THE
BANK FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE BANKING SEASON,TO RETURN IT TO THE BANK
TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILLS!. THEREFORE, TO AVERT THIS NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT,
A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I, NOW SEEK FOR YOUR SINCERE AND HONEST CONSENT
TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED CUSTOMER ,SO THAT THE
FUND WILL BE RELEASED AND PAID INTO YOUR FOREIGN ACCOUNT AS THE SOLE
BENEFICIARY OFTHE FUND. *

* MOREOVER,30% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE FUND WILL BE FOR YOU FOR
PARTICIPATION AND PROVISION OF THE ACCOUNT WHERE THE FUND WILL BE
TRANSFERED,WHILE 60% WILL BE ME AS THE CASE MAY BE, AND 10% IS FOR ANY
LITTLE EXPENSES THAT WILL BE INCURED DURING THE PROCESS,BECAUSE THERE WILL
BE NO WAY BY WHICH THE BANK WILL TRANSFER THE FUND TO YOUR NOMINATED
FOREIGN ACCOUNT WITHOUT LITTLE EXPENSES.HENCE, AS SOON AS WE RECEIEVE YOUR
AFFORMATIVE RESPONSE TO ASSIST IN THE DEAL,I WILL START THE PRELIMINARY
PROCEDURES ON YOUR BEHALF.SO,CLARIFY AT ONCE TO ENABLE US PROCEED.
*

*BEST REGARDS,
MR WILLIAMS KABOR . (MANAGER).*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam