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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
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.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Fraud email example:
From: Microsoft Corporation <msanotification@globomail.com>
Reply-To: microsoftcorporation@email.ua
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 08:09:19 +0100 (BST)
Subject: MICROSOFT NOTIFICATION DATE 07-09-2011
Microsoft®
Promotions.
Belgrave House 76
Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W
9TQ
United Kingdom.
Your e-mail address winning
details:
Winning No: MCA/7642/17279/2011
Ticket No:
MCA/0667/6837579/2011
We wish to congratulate you once again on this note, for being
part of our winners selected in our 32nd anniversary E-mail electronic online
Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft® through our latest internet software. Where
in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd
category and therefore attracted a cash award of GBP 500,000.00 (Five Hundred
Thousand Pounds Sterling). This promotion was set-up to encourage the active
users of the Microsoft Windows.
The online cyber draws was conducted from an exclusive list of over
5,000,000.00 email addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an
advanced automated random computer selection from the web. No tickets were
sold.
Bear in mind that prizes will strictly be remitted to winners that
officially file in for their claim within Ninety days (three months) of winning
notification.
To begin your claim, contact your validating
officer;
Dr. James Potter (Validating Officer)
MICROSOFT PROMOTIONS
DEPARTMENT ( UK ).
Email: microsoftcorporation@email.ua
Your prize award has been insured with your email address and will
be transferred to you upon meeting the requirement of the promotion board
authority which includes your statutory obligations.
You are advised to contact your Validating Officer with the
following details to avoid unnecessary delay and complications:
VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM:
(1)
Your Full Names:
(2) Your contact address:
(3) Your Telephone
numbers:
(4) Your Nationality/Country:
(5) Occupation/Age:
(6)
Alternative email account if any:
(7) Your Preferred Method Of Receiving Your
Prize(From Below):
MODE OF PRIZE REMITTANCE:
I) Cash
Pick-Up/Bank Transfer (You coming Down to United Kingdom Personally to Pick Your
Prize).
II) Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque Name and
other Winning Documents safely to you.
Microsoft® believes in your right to privacy. Your information is
100% secure and protected and will be used exclusively for the purpose of this
promotion only.
Congratulations!
Sincerely,
William Gates
Microsoft Promotion
©Copyright 2011 MSC Inc. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: This
email was sent from a notification only email address. This e-mail and any
attachments to it contain information that is confidential and may be
privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended
recipient(s).
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Anti-fraud resources:
