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)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22993905399 (Benin, probably a 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.
  • hon.barr_marceleze@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Marcel Eze <hon.barr_marceleze90@msn.com>
Reply-To: <hon.barr_marceleze2004@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:00:26 +0000
Subject: VERY URGENT REPLY NEXT OF KIN



MARCEL EZE & CO.CHAMBERS,L.L.B.L.L.M B.L LEGAL PRACTITIONERS,SOLICITORS AND CONSULTANTS,MEMBER CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE 1995.PLOT 121,COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC. Dear Friend, I am calling from Benin Republic West Africa.I am Barrister Marcel Eze,an English speaking Beninoise, Solicitor and Financial Attorney/Consultant.I was moved to contact you based on the present condition of things here.There is a foreigner who registered with my Legal firm as his personal Attorney and he was a stock broker as well as a one time secret agent in importing oil from overseas for our former Ministers.My client was also a Diamond/Gold Merchant. So,on 2nd June 2001 my client,Mr.George,made a Fixed deposit for US$36,400,000.00(Thirty Six Million,Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only)with a Bank here in Benin,with standing statement/agreement with the bank that all correspondences in respect to the fixed deposit contract must be sent to him through my humble chambers. Upon maturity,the routine notification was sent to me,which I dispatched to his forwarding address as usual without a reply.After a month,I sent a reminder which I received from the bank without any reply again. Finally,I discovered from my client's contract employee that he died among many others on Sept.11,2001 Terrorist attack.He died without making any WILL and all attempts to trace his relatives was fruitless. I also discovered that he did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,including his fixed deposit contract with the bank.Hence I seek your consent to present you to this bank as the next of kin based on the official letter I just received from his bankers reminding me that BENINOISE LAW states that at the expiration of (8) years the money will be reverted to the ownership of the BENINOISE Government if I do not confirm the next of kin to claim the fund. Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to my deceased client since you shares the same surname and also from this same country so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not go into the hands of some corrupt government officials.Note that this transaction is simple and risk free because I will provide expert legal services that will guarantee the successful execution of this deal.If you are interested,please contact me as soon as possible through phone,I shall provide you with more details and how we shall proceed with the claims.I expect you to observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be profitable for both of us.contact me through this my private email address; hon.barr_marceleze@yahoo.fr Thanks as I await for your reply. Best Regards,Hon.Barrister Marcel EzePhone no +229-93905399

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam