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)
  • "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 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.
  • mrarthall@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "edward white" <edwardwhite20@pravda.ru>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:58:31 +0200
Subject: JOY AFTER SUFFERNESS


Dear Friend,



I am Mr Edward White and I am very happy to inform you about my success in
getting that fund transferred. Now I want you to contact my secretaryon his
email address below and receive your compensation of $2.5m from him:



NAME: Mr. Art Hall
EMAIL: mrarthall@sify.com

Kindly reconfirm to him the following below information:

Your full name_________________________
Your address__________________________
Your country___________________________
Your age______________________________
Your occupation________________________
Your Phone number______________________



Note that if you did not send him the above information complete, he will
not release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it is you. Ask
him to send you the total sum of ($2.5m )USD CASHIER'S CHEQUE,which I kept
for you. Note also that I will not be reached by email for now because I am
currently away in Japan for investmentpurpose with my share and I will be
busy till about six months time or a year.



Best regards,
Mr Edward White

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam