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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "manager watergate lottery" <manager@watergateonline.com>
Reply-To: info@watergateonline.com
Date: Fri, 01 Jul 2005 15:20:58 +0000
Subject: YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.

     WATERGATE INCO-OPERATION
                       EUROPE/AFRICA/ASIA/SOUTH AMERIA(EAAS)
                                #96 HIGN STREET,CARSHALTON
                                      SURREY,SM53AE,LONDON.
                                       TEL:+447031842325
                                        FAX:+447031941869
YOUR INFORTMATIONS
Refrence No:EAASL/941OY1/02
Batch No:12/25/dc34
Ticket:564 75600545-188
Serial No:5388/02
                 YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.
We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 20th May, 2005. This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.
Your email address attached to ticket number (5-8) drew the EUROMILLION lucky star numbers 6-7-13-28 47 which consequently won the draw in the Second category. You have been approve for the star prize of US$2.500.000(TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USDOLLARS).
CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY FOR THE PROCESSING AND  RELEASE OF YOUR FUND TO YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
MANAGER
DR LAWRENCE WALLS
WATERGATE CO-OPERATION.

Anti-fraud resources: