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:
  • "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. )
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • farmlegacy_i@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • farmlegacy1@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Maria Stevens <farmlegacy_i@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:37:28 -0800 (PST)
Subject: On Trust


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: farmlegacy_i@yahoo.com



- Mrs Maria Stevens No:113 Oliver Thambo creasent,South Africa. Hello my good friend, I am sure you will be surprised to receive this my proposal,since you do not know me personally but consider it as a request from a widow in dare need of your assistance. In brief introduction I am Mrs.Maria Stevens a Zimbabwean Citizen and the wife of late Mr.David Stevens. I got your contact address through online directory here in South Africa during my search for an individual or company that will help me so i seek for your help. Before my husband's death my husband was among the few Zimbabwean white and black farmers, murdered in cold blood by the agents of the ruling government of the incumbent President of Zimbabwe Dr.Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the white minority. This land reform may hem arose when President Mugabe enforced his land reform act; the whole thing resulted to rampant killings and mob actions by his so-called war veterans against renewed farmers, both whites and blacks alike. Despite the world condemnation of this form of dictatorial leadership, President Mugabe kept using this to subdue and intimidate his political enemies. Farmers were the targets of the so-called veterans; this resulted to the death of a lot of good farmers in our country. Before the death of my husband, he took me to South Africa to deposit some huge amount of money in a security company for safekeeping; this fund was according to my husband is meant for overseas investment. My husband specifically drew my attention to his will and to the sum of (US$18 Million United States Dollars) that was deposited here in Johannesburg, South Africa with the security company. MY HUSBAND said and I quote "MY DEAR WIFE, I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MONEY WHICH I DEPOSITED IN SOUTH AFRICA TO FAVOUR YOU. IN CASE AND IN THE CAUSE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH, YOU SHOULD MAKE VERY GOOD USE OF THIS FUND FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY.Based on this explanation, your assistance is highly solicited to transfer this money out of here for investment purpose, without the knowledge of my government who had tactically frozen our wealth and the South Africa government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced with dilemma of investing this money in South Africa for fear of seizure since both countries seems to be working together i have been contemplating on how to invest this fund in your country in a confidential manner. I have concluded of investing in a rapidly growing business (Real Estate), which I know is on the rise all over the world. I am presently living alone in South Africa as asylum seeker because my two twins died in the course of this crisis which has devastated my whole world, also here certain rights such as huge amount or to work while in the country are been denied. Therefore, if you accept to assist me, I am willing to offer you 30% of the total sum, 70% for and we will have to remove any expenses that may occur during the cause of this transaction after you receive the fund in your account. Note: Modalities on how the transfer will be done has been arranged and would be conveyed to you once we have established communication/trust with you. Please contact me with my private Email: farmlegacy1@gmail.com and also your urgent and immediate response will be highly appreciated. Best regards, Mrs Maria Stevens.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam