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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:21:10 +0200
Subject: NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY




Dear Friend,

I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund trans=
ferred.Now I want you to Contact Mr.PAUL AGWA On his email address below =
and receive your compensation of $800.000.00=C2=A0 us dollars from him:

NAME:Mr.PAUL AGWA
EMAIL:(paulagwa06@live.fr)

Kindly reconfirm to him the following below information:=20
Your full name...............Your age......................
Your address.................Your occupation...........
Your country.................Your Sex......................
Your Phone number.......Your City.......................

Note that if you did not send him the above information complete, he=C2=A0=
will not release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it is =
you.Ask him to send you the total sum of ( $800.000.00 )USD CASHIER'S CHE=
QUE ,which I kept for you. Note also that I will not be reached by email =
or phone for now because I am currently away in Japan for investment purp=
ose with my share and I will be busy till about six months time or a year.

Best regards,

DR.JAMES OBI.

=C2=A0

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam