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:
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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: "SENATE NIGERIA" <senatecommitte2info@legwork.com.ng>
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 00:50:28 +0100
Subject: HELLO MY GOOD FRIEND


HELLO MY GOOD FRIEND

>From the records of outstanding foreign payments due for release
with banks in Nigeria, your name and contact was discovered as next on the
list of the outstanding foreigner's payment which are still hanging on
and who have not yet received their payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as you reconfirm your payment details so that
we can authenticate the claim legally. Also note that from our record
the Federal Government of Nigeria has only mapped out the sum of
US$6,700,000.00 Six million, seven hundred thousand united states
Dollars) to be released to you for now, after which the remaining part
of your claims will be released to you.

Kindly re-confirm to us the followings

(1) Your full name and mailing address.
(2) Telephone, and mobile
(3) Occupation:
(4) Age:

In receipt of the above information, your payment will be approved and
paid to you and wired to your nominated bank account or any other
payment means you are quire.

I wait to your response.


Yours truly,

Mr,JAMES OKONWA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam