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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348074045931 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "CENTRAL BANK"<walter.klingel@online.de>
Reply-To: <joeslivachaina@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:57:38 -0700
Subject: central bank

From The Desk of: Mr. Frank Anthony.

Director Foreign Payment Dept.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Tel: 234-807-404-5931.

Attn: Hon. Contractor.

I am Mr. Frank Anthony (Director) Foreign Payment Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), there is presently a counter claims on your funds by one MR.JOHN WHEELER, who is presently trying to make us believe that you are dead and even explained that you entered into an agreement with him to help you in receiving your funds valued at US$25.Million Dollars, So here comes the big question. Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of (JOHN WHEELER JR)?. thereby making him the current beneficiary with his following account details:

 

BANK NAME: NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA,

BRANCH CODE: 531420

ACCOUNT NO: 50168544567001

ACCO/BENEFICIARY: JOHN WEELER (JR)

 

We shall proceed to issue all payments details of US$25.Million Dollars to the said Mr. John Wheeler, if we do not hear from you within the next two working days from today Thanks.

Mr. Frank Anthony.

(Assistance) Chairman

Central Bank of Nigeria. (CBN)

 

 

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam