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:
  • "100% hitch free" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348081861652 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • christianawh@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Christiana Whisky <chwh123@live.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 16:39:28 -0400
Subject: THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.




THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

I am barrister Christiana Whisky, the personal representative to my late client who
has $10 Million USD with his holding Bank before his untimely death in 2005, I am
contacting you to present your names to the Bank as the heir/beneficiary so that they
can transfer the entire funds to you and I shall join you up for sharing and final disbursement
as we shall plan. 50% for me, 35% for you and 10% for tax and 5% for any expenses we might incure
alongside with this transaction.

I want you to know that this is 100% hitch free and no breach of the law is affected.

All legal papers will be processed on your acceptance of this deal. I request
that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone
and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable me file necessary documents
at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money.

Please get back to me so we can get this deal started and concluded immediately.

Reply me to my private box @ (christianawh@sify.com)

Yours faithfully,
Christiana Whisky
Tel: +234-8081861652 (Direct Line)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam