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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- 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!
- 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.
- fullasset_release1@hotmail.co.uk (Hotmail, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: UK Award Notice 2011 <cclnath_02@optusnet.com.au>
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:33:00 +1100
Subject:
Ref Number: UKNL-L/200-26937
Attention: Email Owner,
We are pleased to notify you once again that your email address
won the UK National Promotion held for the Month of October 2011,
You have therefore been approved to claim the sum of 800,000.00
GBP. We are yet to receive your file for Claims.For Due remittance
of funds Contact Claims Agent for your claims with Ticket no:
20511465463-7644.
***************************************
Claims Agent Name: Mr.Mark McAllister
Email:fullasset_release1@hotmail.co.uk
***************************************
Claims Requirements:
1.Full Name:
2.Residential Address:
3.Age:
4.Sex:
5.Mobil Tel:
6.Occupation:
7.Country Of Residence:
8.Nationality:
9.Amount Won:
10.Alternative Email :
Congratulations on behalf of British Government Financial
Department.Note:This is an automated message do not click on the
reply botton,your response must be sent to
fullasset_release1@hotmail.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
