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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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.
  • abavanagifty00@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: abavanagifty00@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:19:13 +0000
Subject: Waiting to hear from you






Beloved one,

My name is Mrs.Gifty Abavana and I am living with AIDS.Ever since my husband, Hon. Lawrence R. Abavana, former Ghanaian Agriculture minister died of AIDS and I was tested positive of the AIDS virus, the mass media wouldn’t just let me and my family be.
Dear,My children have stopped going to school because they could no longer stand the humiliations from fellow students.

The embarrassments are getting on my nerves but what can I do? I would have loved to travel out of the country to a place where I will have peace and spend the rest of my life with my children but I couldn’t make it for I am weak and severely sick. Moreover, no Embassy would grant me Visa to her Country with my hairs withering and boils all over my body. I will like you to keep this top secret and Confidential.

>From all indications, I know that my days are numbered. In the light of The above, I have contacted you to assist me to transfer out of Ghana, The SUM OF $15 Million USD and the 250kg of Gold which my husband Deposited as [GOLD TREASURES] with a security company for the up-keep Of my children, and safe-keep it for my children as they will be coming Over to your country in due course to live and school.

My Dear ,All I need Is a sponsor who can finance this project and secondly after the fund is secured YOU WILL INVEST THE MONEY FOR MY CHILDREN IN COMMERCIAL ESTATE OR ANY BUSINESS OF YOUR CHOICE YOU DEEM HEALTHY. For your effort, I am prepared to give you 25% of the total funds.

I am looking forward to hear from you on private email abavanagifty00@gmail.com while thanking you for your anticipated co-operation,I will also need your personal email address with your telephone and full name.

Kind Regards,
Mrs Gifty Abavana
abavanagifty00@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam