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:
  • "central bank of nigeria" (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.
  • ms.woodellen@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <ms.woodellen@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 12:59:40 +0000
Subject: WE CAN EXECUTE THIS TRANSFER PERFECTLY



STRICTLY CONFIDENTIALHello,
I am Ms. Ellen Wood Cindy, a computer scientist in central bank of Nigeria. Iam 26 years old, just started work with C.B.N. I came across your file whichwas marked X and your released disk painted RED, I took time to study it andfound out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees and certificate but the fund hasnot been release to you. The most annoying thing is that they cannot tell youthe truths that on no account will they ever release the fund to you; insteadthey let you spend more money unnecessarily.
I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this fundto you if you can certify me of my security, and how I can run away from thisNigeria if I do this, because if I don't run away from this country after imade the transfer, I will be seriously in trouble and my life will be in danger.Please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria; you may not understand itbecause you are not a Nigerian. The only thing I will need to release this fundis a special HARD DISK we call it HD120 GIG. I will buy two of it, recopy yourinformation, destroy the previous one, and punch the computer to reflect in yourbank within 24 banking hours. I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file,after which I will run away from Nigeria to meet with you.
If you are interested, do get in touch with me immediately on my E-MAIL:ms.woodellen@gmail.com you should send to me your convenient tell/faxnumbers for easy communications and also re confirm your banking details, sothat there won't be any mistake.
Regards,Ms.Ellen Wood.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam