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:
  • "contract review panel" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • pmaputu6060@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Maputu" <pmaputu12@googlemail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:37:41 -0700
Subject: Business Proposal


Pardon the abruptness of this letter; it is due to its exigency. I am a
government functionary in my country. I represent a locally effective
caucus in dire need of your assistance.

Several funds that have been on hold due to logistic problems might be
returned to the Federal Government Treasury by the end of next quarter
of the year following directives from the Ministry of Finance to WRITE
OFF all such unclaimed foreign debt. I sincerely know what the mutual
benefit we will enjoy if such funds are put in your care. I am a civil
servant in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and an official
member of the Contract Review Panel. We have a particular contract sum
worth millions of dollars which has been negotiated to my committee, that
we can claim title to (based on previous arrangements and documents we
will obtain but has been unable to claim due to our limitations. This
money can be credited to a bank account of our choice. The key issue is
to solicit your collaboration in this matter, and the subsequent
investment (if you may) of the contract sum.

We will however work out a compensation package payable immediately
after the money is credited to your account.

The source of the money is legal and authoritative.

Please note that I do not intend to waste my time and yours. We may not
have met but I decided to take advantage of this new medium that is
still very new in my country (please excuse my intruding). The Internet
is still a fascination to me. Sometimes one needs to take chances.
However I shall ensure that I receive my share by holding on to the support
documents. You can reach me immediately via e-mail for us to commence
dialogue on the modus operandi entailed.

I wish that you took the essence of this letter in strict confidence an get
back to me via my personal Email: pmaputu6060@hotmail.com

Best regards,

DR.P.Maputu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam