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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • mrs.reginamelus@hotmail.com
  • a0melusregina@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Regina Melus <melusregina@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:42:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: from Regina Melus




Good day.from Mrs.Regina Melus
13 Oliver Thambo creasent
Orange Groove
Johannesburg South Africa.
Phone=A0+27=A0732002557=A0
=A0
please i will like you to contact me only on this=A0Email:=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=
=A0=A0=A0=A0
mrs.reginamelus@hotmail.com=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0melusregina@yahoo.com
=A0
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=20

Dear:one

I am sure you will be surprised to receive this letter, since you do not kn=
ow me personally but consider it as a request from a widow in dare need of =
your assistance. In brief introduction I am Mrs.REGINA MELUS=A0a Zimbabwean=
Citizen and the wife of=A0 late MR.JAMES MELUS.

On behalf of my family we seek your help. Before my husband's death 20th MA=
RCH 2005, my husband was among the few Zimbabwean black farmers, murdered i=
n cold blood by the agents of the ruling government of the incumbent Presid=
ent of Zimbabwe Dr.Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for t=
he Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the white minority.=20

This land reform mayhem arose when President Mugabe enforced his land refor=
m act; the whole thing resulted to rampant killings and mob actions by his =
so-called war veterans against renewed farmers, both whites and blacks alik=
e. Despite the world condemnation of this form of dictatorial leadership, P=
resident Mugabe kept using this to subdue and intimidate his political enem=
ies.I will like you to read on this website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm

Farmers were the targets of the so-called veterans; this resulted to the de=
ath of a lot of good farmers in our country. Before the death of my husband=
, he took me to South Africa to deposit some huge amount of money in a secu=
rity company for safekeeping; this fund was according to my husband is mean=
t overseas investment. My husband specifically drew my attention to his wil=
l and to the sum of (US$10. Million United States Dollars) that was deposit=
ed here in Johannesburg, South Africa with the security company. MY HUSBAND=
said and I quote "MY DEAR WIFE, I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MONE=
Y WHICH I DEPOSITED IN SOUTH AFRICA TO FAVOUR YOU. IN CASE AND IN THE CAUSE=
OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH, YOU SHOULD MAKE VERY GOOD USE OF THIS FUND FOR THE=
WELL BEING OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY."=20

Based on this explanation, your assistance is highly solicited to transfer =
this money out of here for investment purpose, without the knowledge of my =
government who had tactically frozen our wealth and the South Africa govern=
ment seems to be playing along with them. We are faced with dilemma of inve=
sting this money in South Africa for fear of seizure since both countries s=
eems to be working together we have been deliberating on how to invest this=
fund in your country in a confidential manner. We have concluded of invest=
ing in a rapidly growing business (Real Estate), which we know is on the ri=
se all over the world.=20

We are presently living in South Africa as asylum seeker, certain rights su=
ch as huge amount or to work while in the country are been denied. Therefor=
e, if you accept to assist us, we are willing to offer you 25% of the total=
sum, 70% for us and 5% have been mapped out for any expenses that may occu=
r during the cause of this transaction.

Note: Modalities on how the transfer will be done has been arranged and wou=
ld be conveyed to you once we have established communication/trust with you=
.. Your urgent and immediate response will be highly appreciated.

=A0
=A0
please i will like you to contact me only on this=A0Email:
mrs.reginamelus@hotmail.com=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0melusregina@yahoo.com
=A0
Phone=A0+27=A0732002557=A0
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0

Best regards=A0

REGINA=A0 MELUS.=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam