joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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:

Fraud email example:

From: "FACEBOOK LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <widen.patrick@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 10:38:39 -0300
Subject: FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY

FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
CATEGORY: 2ND
 
                                                              CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!
 
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual Final draws held on the (20TH OF AUGUST 2013)
 
for this NEW YEAR by Facebook group in cash Promotion to encourage the usage of Facebook users worldwide, your
 
javascript:void(0) Name was among the 50 Lucky winners who won $100,000:00USD (One Hundred Thousand United State
 
Dollars) each on the Facebook group promotion Award Attached to ticket number (5647600545189) and Ref No
 
(2551256002/244) Serial Number (55643451907).
 
The online draws was Conducted by a random selection of emails, you were picked by an Advanced automated random
 
computer search from the Facebook in order To claim your $100,000:00 USD the lottery program which is a new innovation
 
by Facebook is aimed at saying A BIG THANK YOU to all our users for making Facebook their number one means to connect,
 
communicate, relate and hook up with their families and friends over the years.
 
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
 
participants and Scam artists All participants  selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000
 
companies' and 30,000,000 individuals' email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program
 
takes place every three years. You have to be Rest assured that this is Real and Legitimate and there are Some Scam
 
artists around...Thanks to the FBI...216 of them have been arrested... The software corporation to encourage some few
 
individuals with website and email addresses promoted this lottery.
 
Your name was selected in a raffle that was made 20TH OF AUGUST 2013 so we need your fast response so that we can
 
proceed with the delivery of your fund.
 
You are required to contact our dispatch dept via email ( facebook.us@admin.in.th )  signifying your interest by
 
provding your most confidential, telephone numbers for quick communication also your country and home address.
 
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all
 
correspondences. Furthermore, if there is any change in email address please contact us on time
 
Note: Do not reply to these Face Book Account for security purpose reply to the payment department in charge and if
 
you are not interested please do not bother to reply.
 
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!
 
Regards,
Patrick Widen
Cole Johnson.

Anti-fraud resources: