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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "the key word to this transaction is absolute confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +27839533888 (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.
  • martinkolia7@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "martin kolia" <martinkolia1@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:15:34 +0100
Subject: REQUEST FOR INVESTMENT TRANSFER


ATTN: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR / CEO

Dear Sir/Madam,

REQUEST FOR INVESTMENT
TRANSFER.

My name is Mr. Martin Kolia, a Deputy Director General with office of the
Accountant General of the Republic of South Africa . I have the honor to
write you.
It might surprise you, reading from relatively unknown person to you. I got
your address from the South-African chamber of commerce and industry.

During the 2006/2007 fiscal year I was the Assistant Director (Finance) Gold
Mineral Mining Co-operation of South Africa, by the scope of my duties I was
in charge of contract award / settlement of debts, local and international.
My office settled all outstanding debts / budget plan, yet an over invoiced
amount of US$25.000.000.00 (Twenty Five Million United States dollars) was
left in an account with the South African Reserve Bank unknown to any one
else except my self and my close contact with the bank.

It is at this point that I need your assistance to enable this fund be
transferred into your nominated offshore account in your personal / company
name as though you have done a contract job with my department in the past,
every necessary arrangement and the transfer logistics will be perfectly
handled, all hands being on deck, this transaction will be concluded within
7(seven) working days.

All you will do is supply details as bellow ASAP:

1. Account name.
2. Account number.
3. Name on bank.
4. Phone and fax numbers.

We shall compromise on the percentage ratio of your share in this venture
after we must have established confidence and trust between ourselves.
For further transaction, contact me on my private and secured e-mail
address: martinkolia7@gmail.com<http://uk.mc282.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=martinkolia7@gmail.com>


you can also contact me on my direct telephone number: +27 83 953 3888 for
further discussion sequel to the transaction proper.

PLEASE NOTE: THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY
AND DISCIPLINE. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

With My Personal Best Regards,

Mr. Martin Kolia.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam