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. )
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • ahmed_abudada@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: ahmedabudada@live.com
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:35:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM AHMED ABDULAHI DADA.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: ahmed_abudada@yahoo.com

Greetings,

- Greetings,I know this message will come to you as a surprise as we have not met before. I have a proposal to make, that might be of interest to you. I have a deposited consignment containing sum of $3,500.00 United States dollars, plus gold dust and diamond. The consignment was inherited from my late father, who was one of the community leaders in the Darfur region. He was killed by rebel solders. The money is of no criminal origin as it was largely realized from black market sale of crude oil during the war in the Dar fur region. The consignment was lodged with a security company here in Accra, Ghana, by my late father for safe keeping before he was killed. I and my younger ones are presently staying at a refugee camp in Ghana . I sincerely want to move this consignment abroad and invest it in profitable ventures. Upon your request, I will give you further details of the consignment and tell you more about my self, but you must treat as highly confidential for my security. You can also write me through this email: ahmedabudada@live.com Regards, FROM AHMED ABDULAHI DADA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam