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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "=?utf-8?q?MR.WILLIAMS=20ADAMS?=" <mr.williamsa17@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: william_a2009@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 14:16:37 +0530 (IST)
Subject: VERY URGENT LETTER


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mr.williamsa17@yahoo.in



- Dear Sir/Madam, My name is Mr. Williams Adams; I am the Accredited Financial Consultant to the Nigerian National Petroleum Co-operation {NNPC}. Please I need your assistance to transfer the sum of $55.5 Million United States Dollars into your account for safe keeping. If you are willing and capable of receiving this fund, reply with your name…. Address….. Tel/Fax……Your Bank Details……Age & Marital Status……. Get back to me for more details. Thanks, Mr. Williams Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam