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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "WILLIAM COLGATE II" <williamcol@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: willi4_c2@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 15:35:59 -0700
Subject: Hello,


Hello,

I'm William Colgate II, a representative of ExxonMobil in London

(http://www.exxonmobil.com). I have a sensitive and private brief

from the Senior Executives of this top oil company in need of your

partnership to re-profile funds amounting to US$12.2M (Twelve

Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). I will let you

have the details, but in summary, the fund would be paid to you

through a Finance Company where it is presently deposited as soon as

the filing and documentation process is concluded in your name.

This is a legitimate transaction without government interference and

you shall be compensated with 20% of the total sum, should you and

your company agrees to work with us. If you are interested, please

reply for further details.

Regards,

William Colgate II

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam