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:
  • "economic financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
  • "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
  • "fbi washington" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real FBI will not tell you to contact some email address. If you are in any doubt, contact an FBI field office via www.fbi.gov. )
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • mrrexdickson1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Laura Onu" <mrslauraonu005@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrslauraonu@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:03:49 +0000
Subject: GOOD NEWS



>From the Office of the Secretary to the Chairman of ECONOMIC FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC).



I am Mrs. Laura Onu the secretary to the new chairman of ECONOMIC FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC).


EFCC in alliance with economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) and Federal bureau of investigation FBI WASHINGTON D.C with head Office here in Nigeria. I write to inform you that following a meeting with the all foreign Embassy and Federal Republic of Nigeria.



The subject of discussion is why foreigners who executed foreign contracts/Inheritance/Lotteries are either paid part payment or not paid at all.

There are series of complaints by the Beneficiaries and that they have lost some amount of money in pursuit of their payments and this gave rise to the us Government setting up a five man committee to work with the US Embassy here in Lagos, Nigeria.



Towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam Artists in Western part of Africa.
With the help of United States Government and the United Nations We have been able to track down so many of this scam artist in various parts of west African countries which includes (NIGERIA, REPUBLIC OF BENIN,TOGO, GHANA CAMEROUN AND SENEGAL ETC) and they are all in our custody here in Lagos Nigeria.



We have been able to recover so much money from these scam artists. The United Nation Anti-crime commission and the United State Government (F.B.I) have Order the money recovered from the Scammers to be shared among 100 Lucky people around the globe. This mail is been directed to you because your email address was found in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard disk in our custody here in Nigeria.



You are therefore be Compensated with $8.5M, Remember the scam artist always claims that they are Barristers/Bank Officials Lottery Agents who has money for transfer or want you to be the next of kin of such funds which do not exist.


Since your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a compensation of $8.5M We are going to pay you through online banking, Cash payment or wire transfer after we have confirmed that you are the right beneficiary, Feel free to contact Mr. Rex Dickson on email address: mrrexdickson1@gmail.com , Lawyer to the EFCC for more details.

Best Regard
Mrs. Laura Onu Sec to the Chairman EFCC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam