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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • billinghamrich2008@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Billingham" <info@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: billinghamrich2008@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:12:23 +0300
Subject: Business Offer


Dear Friend,

You do not know me and neither do I know you. I am not desperate nor in need of help.I only want to be sure you are the kind of person I can trust with the following proposal.

I have been very careful in my selection and have taken pains to ensure I will be dealing with a person that has the intelligence to understand what I am getting myself into. From the little I have been able to deduce, I cannot make you agree to partner with me on this but I can assume that when you are in, I can trust you completely.

I am a UK based lawyer presently in Sweden and I am bringing everything I have to the table; my reputation and all I have labored for my whole life. The least I ask of you, is for you, after hearing the proposal to honestly tell me if you are up for it or not, without acting maliciously. That way, I get to loose nothing and can walk away with my proposal and reputation intact without actually divulging full details.

I bear the full brunt of any risk involved in this business which I cannot do alone and you can be rest assured that you will be duly compensated financially for your involvement. The thing is, anyone can serve but I chose you. I pray you don't let me down. For more details if interested, SMS me on my mobile; +46734927213 or reply by email(billinghamrich2008@gmail.com)

The fact of the proposal involves access to millions of Tax-Free United States Dollars. It is up to you to accept or decline. I am waiting to hearfrom you. Time is of the essence.

Yours faithfully,
Richard Billingham
billinghamrich2008@gmail.com
+46734927213

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam