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:
  • "million us 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)
• 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.
  • +27837213056 (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.
  • maria1110wemba@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "maria wemba" <maria_za53@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: maria1110wemba@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:13:50 +0200
Subject: URGENT HUMBLE ASSISTANCE.

Mrs. Maria Wemba&Benson Wemba
Tel:+27-83-721-3056.
Email:maria1110wemba@yahoo.co.uk

          (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL)
 
ATTN:PRESIDENT/CEO
 
I got your contact courtesy of the South African chamber of commerce and Industry business Directory here in Johannesburg,My name is Mrs Maria Wemba, the former wife of Defence Minister ,Gabriel Wemba  of the republic of Gabon in Central Africa. I and my only son are  presently residing in Johannesburg, South Africa where we are seeking political Asylum following the latest dissolution of our 25 year-old marriage.
 
Before my marriage with the defence minister Gabriel Wemba finally broke-up, I was able to move out some reasonable sum of Money in US$ currencies out of the Presidential Villa in Libraville, which I intend toinvest for myself and my only son. This fund amounts to a total of US$20M(Twenty Million US Dollars)and this money is safely kept in the security vault of aprivate security  company in Johannesburg pending when I will find a trusted foriegn business partner.

I am interested in any business you think can be very viable in your country as long as the business will not fail me because the lives of me and my son depends on this money as we may never in life go back to his father who outrightly abandoned us.In your reply please indicate a few businesses you think will be of mutual benefit to both myself and yourself. We will be glad to part with a reasonable percentage of the total fund to you for all your assistance towards moving this money out of  Johannesburg to your country and helping us in term of reasonable investment opportunities that will be of mutual benefit to my family and also your humble self.

Please indicate your willings and also include your private phone and fax numbers for quicker communication, the above numbers are my private telephone and fax numbers.For further enquiries, you may wish to call me or my son on the above telephone numbers. Please maintain absolute confidentiality of this priviledged piece of information and proposal as it is never the wish of me and my son that His father (Gabriel Wemba)ever know our wayabout for life.

Hoping to meet you very soon as our business relationship improves.God bless you as we await your favourable reply,
 
Mrs Maria Wemba & Benson Wemba.

---

Customise your home page with RSS feeds at MSN South Africa! --

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam