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:
  • "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. )
  • "for your efforts, i am prepared to offer you " (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a "Zimbabwe" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: osmond zuma <osmond_zelexzuma@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mr_osmondzuma@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:47:08 +0000
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP.



From: Osmond Zuma,

Add: S/A Refugee Camp,
Block 6, Flat 2, Johannesgurg,
South Africa.



ATTN:

My dear,
My name is Osmond Zelex Zuma, the son of late Mr. Zelex Zuma of ZIMBABWE. It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address, I got it from the South African Information Network Online (SAINO) South Africa Trade Center. For your perusal you can view this web site.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/715001.stmDuring the current crises against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President, ROBERT MUGABE to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers.
My Father was one of the great and best farmers in the country and knowing that he did not support the president’s political ideology also he was a strong member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe, the president’s supporters invaded my father's farm and burnt down everything, he was shot dead, also my mother's death follows after my father's sudden death. And after their death, I decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of my life to South-Africa as I'm the only remaining person in my family.

But, before my father’s death he wrote his will, which reads "(MY BELOVED WIFE AND SON, I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SUM OF ($17,000,000.00). SEVENTEEN MILLION U.S DOLLARS WHICH I DEPOSITED IN A BOX WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN JOHANNESBURG (SOUTH-AFRICA), IN CASE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH CAUSED BY DEATH ONLY". Both of you should solicit for a reliable foreign partner to assist you to transfer this money out of SOUTH AFRICA for investment purpose as South Africa is very close to our country Zimbabwe.
I deposited the money on our only beloved son Osmond and it can be claimed by him alone with your surpote.

My dear, from the above, you will understand that my life and future depends on this money as much as my mother has gone too, please I will be very grateful if you can assist me and I'm now living in South-Africa as POLITICAL ASYLUM SEEKERS and the financial law of SOUTH-AFRICA does not allow ASYLUM SEEKERS certain financial rights to such amount of money. In view of this, I cannot invest this money in South Africa, hence I am asking you to assist me transfer this money out of South-Africa for investment purposes.

For your efforts, I am prepared to offer you 20% of the total fund, while 5% will be set aside for local and international expenses and 70% will be kept for my investment purpose. Finally modalities on how the transfer will be done will be conveyed to you once I establish trust and confidence between ourselves. Looking forward to your urgent reply.

Best regards,
Osmond. Z. Zuma.


_________________________________________________________________
Get the next generation of Windows Live services now!
http://get.live.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam