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:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: peter duke <d_peter_duke7@msn.com>
Reply-To: <dr_peter_duke_private@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 12:27:45 +0000
Subject: REPLY AS SOON



Attn Sir,

My name is Dr. PETER DUKE, a senior staff and executive of a bank here in United Kingdom. I am writing to seek your indulgence and assistance. I wish to make a transfer involving a huge amount of money estimated at £15,000,000.00.(fifteen million pounds sterling).

I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your choice. I could not do this project alone since I am an insider in the bank. A zero account balance or a new account may be opened for this purpose. Thus, for your indulgence and support, I propose an offer of 10% of the total amount to be your compensation and commission after the transfer has been successfully concluded.

Kindly reply me stating your interest, and I shall furnish you with the details and the necessary procedure with which to make this transfer legitimate and effective. I am anxiously awaiting your response via my email or call. And include your tel/fax number for better and swift communication.

Thanks and God bless.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. PETER DUKE,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam