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:
  • "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. )
  • "trunk box" (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 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • serah_emodu1@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 19:40:05 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Please reply.

Message from Miss Sera Emodu.
Abidjan (Ivory Coast),
Cote D'ivoire.


Attn: Md/Ceo,

I am Sera Emodu, from Ivory Coast. I am of 20 years old Girl. I lost my father years ago; He was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board until his untimely death. He was assassinated last January 2002 by the rebels following the political uprising.

Before his death he had a fund consignment box deposited with a security and finance company here in Cte d'Ivoire up to the tune of $10.5M, which he told the security company as containing "GEMSTONE". Honestly I would like you to have an investment and confidant relationship with you, if possible
entrusting my life time fortune into your possession. Now, I am broken hearted and needs some one to trust, without remembering my past and forsaken experiences from close confidants and family. All I want from you is to assist me make claims of the funds concealed in a metallic trunk box
deposited in a security company here in Cote D段voire, by my late father. The amount deposited is 10.5 million United States dollars. Please if you are willing to assist me, kindly indicate your interest in replying soonest to my email serah_emodu1@yahoo.co.jp for more details.

Thanks and best regards.
Serah Emodu.



---------------------------------
Power up the Internet with Yahoo! Toolbar.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam