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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (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.
  • +27738108016 (South Africa, 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.
  • philipmakata@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "philip makata" <philipmakata0016@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: philipmakata@myway.com
Date: Sat, 03 Jun 2006 12:52:14 +0100
Subject: URGENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

FROM:PHILIP MAKATA
 JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.
Tel+27-73-810-8016
Email:philipmakata@myway.com

                                              URGENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
 
 Dear Sir/MADAM
 
   You may be surprised to receive this letter from  me since you do not know  me personally I am  PHILIP MAKATA the first son of Mr.JOE MAKATA, who was recently  murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through network  online hence decided to write to you.
 
Before the death of  my  father, he had taken  me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of USD$20.5 Million (TWENTY MILLION   FIVE HUNDRED UNITDED STATES DOLLARS)   in one of the  private security  companies, as if he foresaw the looming danger in  Zimbabwe   This money was deposited in a box as germ stones to  avoid more demurage from  the security  company.

 

This amount was meant for the  purchase of new  machines and chemicals for the farms and  establishment of a new farm in  Swaziland. This land problem came when Zimbabwe  President MR. ROBERT MUGABE  introduced a New Land Act reform, which  wholly  affected the rich white  famers and some few  black farmers.
 
 This resulted to killing and mob  action by Zimbabwe  an war veterans and  some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of  people were killed becauseof  this land reform act for which my father was one of  the victims.

 

 It is  against this background that my  family and I who  are currently staying in Suth Africa  decided to transfer my father's money  to a foreign  Country   since the law of South Africa prohibits  refugees to  open any bank account  or to be involved  in  any financial transaction  throughout the territorial  zones of South Africa.
 
    As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with  the  reaponsibility of   seeking for a genuine foreign  account where this money could be transferred into  without the  knowledge of  my government who are bent on my family. I must also  let you know that this   transaction is 100% risk free.

 

 If you accept to assist me and my family  all I want  from you is for you to  make an arrangements  and come to Johannesburg,  SOuth Africa so that you can  help me open a non-resident account in your name  which will aid us in   transferring the money into any account  you will nominate overseas or you provide your address were the security company can  ship it as a consignment  to you. This money I intend to use  for investment and growth in your country.
 
 I have two  options, firstly you can choose to have  certain   percentage of  the money for nominating your account  for this  transaction, or you can go  into partnership  with me for proper profitable  investment of the money  in
 your country.
 
 Whichever the option you want, feel  free to notify  me. I have also mapped  out 5% of this  money for all kinds of expenses we  might incur in the  process of this transaction.   If you do not prefer a partnership, I am  willing to give you 25% of the total money while  remaining 70% will remain for my family and me. If you are really  capable and  willing to assist me,  please contact me  immediately with the above
 telephone number  with which I  have sent you this message  Finally, please treat this matter as urgent as    possible. I am in dire need to leave this country  with my family soonest.
 
    Thanks for your mutual co-operation.
 I expect your soonest response.

 Best regards,
 Mr: PHILIP MAKATA

 (For the family)

 

N.B: Please remember to reply to me through this email address:philipmakata@myway.com

---

Raise money for the NSPCC whilst searching the web. Learn more with clickscount.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam