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:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "contract award committee" (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 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.
  • +447035902495 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • geraldabam1@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Gerald Abam" <abamgerald@web2mail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 04:06:50 -0700
Subject: Greetings to you


Greetings to you

I am Very pleased to be in contact with you, for the possibility of
accepting my Proposal to you. Please note that I don't have anything to hide
for you, irrespective that I have not seen you in person. My name is Dr
Gerald Abam the scrutiny officer contract award committee offshore
department in London.



Due to the increase of corruption going on in the world, we have been
mandated by the finance minister to settle all debt owed by our foreign
contractors. After all, I have been able to negotiate out for our self the
sum of $6.5. Million Dollars which was packaged in a box and deposited to a
diplomatic home as a family valuable which will be delivered through a
diplomatic means out of the country, Due to the civil services rule and
regulation act of 1999 here which prohibits civil servants from having a
foreign account,



I am soliciting for your assistance to act as the beneficiary to the said
consignment deposited to the diplomatic company, the whole exercise is 100%
risk free on your side as I have set in motion all necessary modalities for
the successful processing of the delivery of the fund abroad You are
requested to furnish me with your full particulars including your phone
number in order to present you as the bonofide owner of the consignment the
sharing plans will be made known to you as soon as I hear back from you.

You can reach me through my private email address: geraldabam1@hotmail.com

Best Regards,

Dr Gerald Abam

Phone no: + 447035902495

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam