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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Favor Brown" <favorbrown72@msn.com>
Reply-To: favor.brown@live.com
Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 14:01:50 +0000
Subject: Beloved One

Beloved One

I would like you to permit me to apply through this medium for your
co-operation and to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint
relationship and business with you in your country. My name is Miss Favor
Brown, 19years and single from Bouake , Cote d'ivoire . The only surviving
child of Mr Calistus Brown who dealed on Gold and Diamonds during his days
Before he was shot by an assassins hired by his brother on his business
Trip to Ethiopia on the 20th of November 2008. My mother and my only brother
happened to be a victim in the incident while I was schooling In
France.Honestly, I am in serious agony and pains since the death of my
parents.

Meanwhile a week before the incident took place, we had a family meeting and
my late father informed us that his brother threatened to kill him. Due to
fear, he took all his documents and some personal information to our family
lawyer including the deposit certificate of USD$8.000.000.00 (Eight Million
US dollars) that was issued to him on the day he made a deposit to the
Investment bank.I want you to help me provide an account where this money
will be transferred into for an investment in your country. I will offer you
50% of the total amount for helping me and use the other 50% for an
investment in your country after my education.
I will give you the contact of the lawyer who will give you more information
and directives on how you will receive the money in your account. I have
discussed with him on my plans to transfer the money into your account and
he supported the idea so that my wicked uncle will not locate me and kill
me. l wait to receive your reply to my mail so that i will give you more
information about the fund.

May God Bless you for your understanding. Eagerly Waiting for your urgent
response.

Thanks.
Favor Brown

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam