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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. 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.
  • lottery_agent_vivianfrank90@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "Lotto Winners Info" <lottowinners_info@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 02:50:09 -0800
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE

EUROAFRIC LOTTERY ORGANIZATION
JAVANDA HILLS PLOT 1009.
COUTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF NO: EGS/2551256003/02
BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD

ATTN: STICK WINNER.

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our RECENT LOTTERYDRAWS
HELD on the 5th of may. 2005.Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number:11 23 34 38 48 49 46 750 with serial number:211305 drew lucky
numbers:13 1522 37 39 which consequently won in the 2nd category. you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of $560.00USD.[FIVE HUNDRED AND
SIXTY THOUSAND only).

Note that All participants in this lottery program have been selected
randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies
and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and web
sites.This promotional program takes place every year,and it is promoted and
sponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei,Bill Gates of
microsoft inc and other corporate organisations.This is to encourage the use
of the internet and computers worldwide. For security purpose and clarity,we
advice that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims
have been processed and your money remitted to you.This is part of our
security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some participants.We look forward to your active participation in
our next 4million euroafric slot.

You are required to contact your Claim Agent MRS.MARY THOMAS,Foreign
Operations Manager,EUROAFRIC INTL LOTTERY at
Email:-(lottery_agent_vivianfrank90@yahoo.fr) for processing and remittance
of your prize money to your designated account of your choice.

All winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the date of this
notice.Please note,in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications,Remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in
allcorrespondence. Furthermore,should there be any change of address do
inform our claim agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more and
thank you for being part of our promotional program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF
AGE.

Sincerely,

MRS. VERA LUCAS.
VICE PRESIDENT.
EUROAFRIC INTL LOTTERY.
AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE



--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam