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)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "utmost 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)
  • "i got your email address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • +27725898233 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "JUDE NCUBE" <judencubefamily17@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: markncubefamily@pnetmail.co.za
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 12:01:34 +0200
Subject: URGENT REQUEST


Late Mr. Mark Koyo* *Ncube


From: Jude Koyo Ncube
Johannesburg- South Africa .
Phone:+27 725898233

Dear Sir/Madam,

REF: URGENT REQUEST

My name is PRINCE JUDE KOYO NCUBE(Jnr) the elder son of PRINCE MARK
KOYO NCUBE, of the republic of Zimbabwe I'm aware that this unexpected
letter will come to you as a surprise I Apologies for any inconvenience, but
please do bear with me for I am Only seeking for your help. I got your email
address from network Directory. I apologize if I have infringed on your
privacy.

During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe ,supported by
President, Robert Mugabe in his effort to expel the white farmers of the
country. He has ordered the white farmers to give their farms to his members
of the party and his followers.

My father was one of the most successful farmers in our country, and had
been the Minister of Finance in Robert Mugabe's administration, but he did
not like the idea of dispossessing the white farmers of their land. For
this,his farm was invaded and was burned by the supporters of the
government. In the course of the assault, my father was killed, and the
invaders made away with many articles of the farm of my father. Our family
house was totally destroyed.

Before the death of my father, he called me to the attention of the sum of
US$18.2 Million United States Dollars, which he had deposited with a
Security Company here in South Africa , during his tenure as minister of
finance. I decided to get in touch with you, so that you will help me in the
transfer of this money from South Africa to your Country. This has become
necessary after I have been denied any right to own Bank account or any
other form of financial transaction here, for I am a political asylum seeker
here in South Africa .

We (my sister and I) proposed that you should receive 20% of the entire
amount for your help in the transfer of the fund, then 75% of this money
shall go to us (my sister and I), 5% remaining will be used to cover any
cost or expenses incurred by the both parties in the process of this
transaction.

Would you immediately confirm your interest in this transaction through
my email or you can call me on my mobile phone :+27 725898233 and please
use this email to contact me,then I will give you more details on how we
shall conclude this transaction.

Incase you may have no interest in this transaction; I kindly request your
utmost confidentiality and secrecy in this matter for security reasons.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Best regards,

PRINCE JUDE KOYO NCUBE(JNR)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam