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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (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.
  
• 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.
  • +22997730174 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Savimbi Martins <duke-harrison@online.nl>
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:39:50 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Savimbi Martins





From Savimbi Martins
Direct Mobile:+229-97730174.
E-mail: savimbimartins@voila.fr


Dear Sir/Madam


I am Mr. Savimbi Martins, the son of the late leader of Unita Rebel Jonas Savimbi of Angola who died on the 22nd February 2002. I apologized for using this medium to reach you for a Transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to confidentiality required for the smooth operation of the transaction. It is withtrust that I wish to contact you on this matter concerning the transfer of Twenty Million United States Dollars (US$20,000,000.00).


I managed to get your contact details through world on line here in Cotonou-Benin. My movement and that of other members of my family has been highly restricted in Angola but, happily I was able to move out of Angola and I'm now in Cotonou-Benin. Please you can visit the website below for more details on my fathers death.
http://www.empereur.com/angola.html


Before the death of my father he deposited the sum of Twenty Million United States Dollars (US$20,000,000.00). in a Security Trust/Financial Institution for Safe keeping only. I am currently in Cotonou-Benin as an asylum seeker pending when I get a Foriegn Partner/Investor because the financial laws here in the Republic of Cotonou-Benin does not allow me as an asylum seeker to operate any bank account here or to engage in such financial transactions.


I have sort for your assistance to retrieve the said funds and transfer same to your Country or any other safe place outside Cotonou-Benin for future investment as per your instruction and guidance. Please treat with the strictest confidentiality and utmost urgency. You can contact me immediately through the telephone number above or reply through email.


Your earliest response would be highly appreciated as I look forward to a benefitting partnership with you.


Best regards,
Savimbi Martins.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam