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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22998381076 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • gwilliams_smith10192@yahoo.com.hk
  • collinsdoglas@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?big5?q?Smith=20Williams?= <williams_smith10192@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 03:25:29 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: I DID NOT FORGET YOUR PAST EFORT THANKS.


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gwilliams_smith10192@yahoo.com.hk



- Dear Friend I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transfered,i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me as of that time.Now feel free and get in touched with my secretary Mr Collins Doglas in Cotono, Benin Republic on his E-mail address ( collinsdoglas@sify.com ) Tel +229 98 381 076 ask him to send you the total of $1.500,000.00 usd, which i kept for your rewarding for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.presently i'm very busy here in Paraguay because of the investment projects which i and the new partner are having at hands.Send to Mr Collins Doglas the listed details below to avoid wrong delivery 1.YOUR FULL NAME..2.YOUR HOUSE OR OFFICE ADDRESS...3.YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER..4.YOUR MOBILE NUMBER..5.YOUR AGE..6.YOUR OCCUPATION..7.A COPY OF YOU PICTURE TO AVOID WRONG DELIVERY.Signed Dr.Smith Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam