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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "abidjan" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Gonki" <lcfg@uunoert.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 11:30:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From The Desk Of Mr. John Gonki.


>From The Desk Of Mr. John Gonki.
The Director of Internal Control Unit
Dear Friend,
 
My name is Mr Ferdinard Pochiku working with a financial institution here in Abidjan Cote
D'Ivoire I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of USD$10,750,000.00 (Ten
Million,Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) immediately to your bank
account.
 
Upon your reply I will send you full details on why and how the business will be executed
and 30% will be giving to you for your cooperation.
 
Send me your contact information.1) Name 2) .Age. (3)Residential address (4) occupation (5)
private telephone number.
Waiting to hear from you soonest.
 
Regard
Mr. John Gonki

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam