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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • +27728449818 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +27866105740 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: jonathan mpoyo <jonathanmpoyofamily5@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 05:00:41 -0600
Subject: HELP MY FAMILY.



FROM MR.JONATHAN MPOYO.
51ESSELLEN STREET SANTON,
JOHANNESBURG-SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL: +27-72-8449-818.
FAX: +27-86-6105-740.

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL.


Dear Sir/Madam,

You may be surprised to receive this message from me since you don't know me in person, but for the purpose of introduction, I am Mr. Jonathan Mpoyo, the eldest son late Mr. Gabriel Mpoyo, who was murdered in a land dispute in ZIMBABWE.

You contact was given to me at the SOUTH AFRICA EXCHANGE NETWORK ON LINE here in Johannesburg as reliable and trustworthy to deal with and then I decided to write you. My late father was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agent of the ruling government of President ROBERT MUGABE for his alleged support and sympathy for Zimbabwean opposition party. Which we communicated to the whole world through BBC AND CNN.

Before the death of my father, he took me and my mother with my little sister to SOUTH AFRICA to deposit the sum of TWENTY MILLION US Dollars ($20M),with a security and finance company, as if he knew the looming danger in Zimbabwe. The money was deposited as a gem or precious stone to avoid much demurrage from the security firm. This money was earmarked for the purchase of new machinery and chemicals for the farms and the establishment of new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland.

This land problem arose when President R. MUGABE introduced a new land Act. Which wholly affects the white rich farmers and some few blacks vehemently condemned the ‘MODUS OPERANDI' adopted by the government.

This resulted to rampant killing and mob actions. I and my family who are presently residing in South Africa as a refugee or an asylum seeker have decided to transfer this money to a foreign country where we can invest it. I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in South Africa for fear of encountering the same experience in future since both countries have the same political history.

Moreover, the South African monetary policy/law does not allow such investment hence I am seeking for an asylum or refugee. I must let you know that this business is 100% risk free and the nature of your business does not necessary matter. So if you are willing to assist us, I and my family have agreed to give you 15% of the total sum, 40% will be for a joint business venture I will be doing with you and another 40% will be for me and my mother which we shall also invest in your country and the remaining 5% will be mapped out for all expenses we may incurred during the transaction.

Therefore, if you are willing and interested to render the needed assistance, endeavor to reply through my email address,Fax line +27-86-6105-740 or call me directly on my directly mobile line +27-72-8449-818 for further discussion between us.

I also need your private phone and fax number for easy communication and remember that this transaction demand absolute confidentiality from you.

Thank you as I expect your reply soonest.

Best Regard.
Jonathan Mpoyo.
(FOR THE FAMILY)

NB: Please read about problems in Zimbabwe from the link below.

1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
3]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785stsm
_________________________________________________________________
Missed the show?  Watch videos of the Live Earth Concert on MSN.
http://liveearth.msn.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam