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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • ronaldriling@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "RONALD RILING" <ronald_riling40@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: ronaldriling@myway.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:20:34 +0100
Subject: FROM SGT. RONALD, INFANTRY DIVISION US TROOP, IRAQ


Attention,

My name is Sgt.Ronald Riling; I'm a US soldier, serving in the military with
the Third (3rd) infantry Division in Iraq (US Coalition Force). I and my
superior after going on a rampage on Saddam Hussein palace in Baghdad
discovered a substantial amount of money. You may need to check out the
following BBC website to confirm more of our discovery which was made known
to the government, but this particular one is a top secret:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

While on our rampage mission to Saddam Hussein Palace , we discovered a huge
sum of money but on the process of counting the money, the sum of
US$9,500,000.00 ( Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
which was secretly moved out to a secure place in West Africa through
diplomatic means. We therefore write to seek your assistance to keep this
fund under your custody until we are through with our service assignment in
Iraq . We cannot disburse and keep this amount in our account while in
active service.

If you are interested I will send you the full details as my job is to find
a good partner that we can trusted on this project and I believe you won't
let us down. To ensure confidentiality, when you receive this letter, kindly
reply me via e-mail: ronaldriling@myway.com , signifying your interest.
Include your following information:

1) Your Tel/Fax number for verbal and administrative communication
2) Your full name and contact address for administrative application of
the funds claim. There is no risk involved whatsoever.

I look forward hearing from you soonest.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sgt.Ronald Riling,


Third (3rd) Infantry Division US Military Iraq
My alternative email: ronaldriling@myway.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam