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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "mariam abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • allpeoplesmail@inmail24.com

Fraud email example:

From: "=?utf-8?q?Mrs.Mariam=20Abacha?=" <urgentassistantmail@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: maria1010@katamail.com
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 11:37:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I NEED INVESTMENT ADVICE!!!!!


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:urgentassistantmail@yahoo.com.co



- From Mrs.Mariam Abacha Email:allpeoplesmail@inmail24.com Dear Sir/Madam, l am sorry for the embarrassment this my letter might cause you as we have not had any correspondence before this letter. l got your address through my newphew who works with Nigeria Chamber of Commerce lndustry and Minning during my research for a reliable and trustworthy artner who l can do business with though l did not disclose the nature of the business l intend to do with whoever he recommend for me. l am Mariam Abacha, wife of the late Nigeria Head of State, General Sanni Abacha who died on the 8th of June, 1998 while still on active duty. l am contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of great assistance to each other as we developing a cordial relationship. Currently, I have within my reach the sum of Fity Eight million US Dollars (US$58,000,000.00) cash which l intend to use for investment, like Real Estate Development specifically in your country. This money came as a payback contract deal between my late husband and a Russian Firm on our countries multi-billion dollars Ajaokuta Steel Plant. The Russian Partners returned my husband's share of USD$58,000,000.00 after the death of my husband and lodged in my husband's security company of which l am director right now, this new Civilian Government of President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua have intensified their probe on my husband's financial and oil company. ln view of these, l acted fast to withdraw the US$58,000,000.00 from the company's vault and deposited it in a Security Company else where. l have since declared the Security Company bankrupt. No record ever existed concerning the money nor traceable by the government because there is no documentation showing that we received any money from the Russian company. Due to the current situation in the country concerning Government attitude towards my family, it has become quite impossible for me to make use of this money within. The pressent Government in Nigeria had frozen and seized all our bank accounts both here in Nigeria and abroad. herefore, l shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss in detail about this transaction. Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to claim, transfer and invest this fund. l proposed a percentage of 30% of the total sum to you for the expected service and assistance, 10% for offsetting minor expenses incurred in the course of this transaction. while 60% is for the investment on behalf of my family Your urgent response is highly needed for further contacts. All correspondence must be by the email address below. l will give you my tel numbers where you can contact me when l hear from you. l must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential whatever your decision while await your prompt response. to this Email:allpeoplesmail@inmail24.com NB: Because of the security being mounted on the members of my family,l have decided that this transaction exist between you and my son Mohammed Abacha. Remember to include your contact address private tel/fax or mobile number for easy communication. Best Regards. Mrs.Mariam Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam