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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • +2332463129832 (Ghana, 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.
  • kenga.grace1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "GRACE KENGA" <gracekenga@mok-ma-ltd.net>
Reply-To: mrs.gracekenga10@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:18:10 +0000
Subject: MESSAGE FROM GRACE KENGA




FROM: GRACE KENGA
TEL: +233 246 312 983
20. NETMARK STREET ACCRA
GHANA.


PLEASE HELP MY FAMILY


Dear Sir/Madam,
,
With due respect, trust and humility, I write to you this proposal which I believe would be of great interest to you. My message could be strange but real if you pay attention to it. I find your contact while I was doing a private research on the Internet for a reliable and capable foreign partner. I am writing to you on behalf of Kenga’s family to enquire if you can assist my humble family undertakes some capital investment in your country.

I am Grace kenga, the only daughter of Late Mr.Robert Kenga, who was the chairman of the Farmer’s co-operation in Zimbabwe. My Father was among the few black farmers that were murdered in cold blood by President Robert Mugabe Administration during the land dispute that just happened in Zimbabwe.

Prior to my father's untimely death, he had seen the rising hostilities of President Robert Mugabe's government in my country Zimbabwe. It may interest you to know that during my Father's regime as the Chairman of the farmer’s co-operation, he realized some reasonable amount of money from various deals that he successfully executed. As a result of his death and uncontrollable crisis in my Zimbabwe, I together with my family members decided to seek asylum in Ghana where my Father had deposited US$35.5 Million (Thirty Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

This money was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farms in Swaziland. We now want to use this money for investment in your country since we do not have anybody to assist us. Following the above, I am asking for your urgent assistance to transfer this money out of Ghana using very confidential and reliable means.

However, this money was safely kept in a Security Company here in Accra Ghana before his death under disguise as precious items and nobody has any slight knowledge of what is inside the box deposited with the Security Company. In other words, there is no risk involved and so do not hesitate to ask questions where necessary. All the documents covering the deposition of the money with the Security Company are intact with me.

If you consider yourself honest, trustworthy and willing to assist us, please respond by this email address (kenga.grace1@hotmail.com)or through the above phone number to enable me provide you with detailed information on how the transfer of this fund can be made to your account upon acceptance. My family members have agreed to offer you 20% of the total amount for the assistance and efforts you are going to put for the smooth and successfully transfer of the fund, also 5% will be for any incurred expenses both locally and International.

I look forward hearing from you upon receipt of this mail. (kenga.grace1@hotmail.com)

Best regard.

Grace Kenga.
(For and On behalf of my family

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam