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 - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Alex Kosonga <alex.948@paiwastoon.com.af>
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 06:44:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: urgent

Hello,

My name is Alex Kosonga, the first son of Mr. Cliff Kosonga, a former farm
owner and a top Opposition member in Zimbabwean politics. Please I am actually
looking for a person who has got a good experience in any lucrative business
overseas, because I cannot operate here in Zambia due to some reasons. Also my
life and that of my younger brother depends on what I am going to tell you
now.

It is the money my father mapped out for his electioneering campaign and for
upgrading his farmland before he was killed by the government of Mr. Robert
Mugabe because of his strong opposition to the obnoxious Land Reform Act of
the government of President Robert Mugabe.

Before he died, he deposited the sum 25 Million US dollars in a security
company Abroad. When he was killed, my mother took us and ran to Zambia where
she later died of high blood pressure last year leaving me and my kid brother
to our faith, I have the deposited certificate to the consignment and I have
actually called the security company telling them of my intention and ordeal
but they inform me that I should come or send any of my father business
associate to clear the consignment.

The consignment was deposited as a personal artifact containing Gold and some
precious materials; they do not know it contain money (US dollars)that is a
top secret. Want I want you to do is to clear this consignment on our behalf
and we are ready to share this money equally with you after the clearance. The
consignment has been deposited since the year 2002.

So please I am kindly asking you to assist us transfer this money out of the
security company into your personal account in your country in order for us to
start a good business. We are looking forward for your kind assistance.

Best Regards

Alex Kosonga.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam