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:

• 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.
  • westerngroup5@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "sabina sabina" <kampsabina@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 07:50:34 +0000
Subject: Congratulations For Your Winning


INTERNATIONAL LOTTO PRIZE DRAW
Ref. Number: 444/756/5009
Batch Number: DD8901527-AA88

Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 15th of October, 2005. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number 1111465855-6410 with serial number
3772-554 drew lucky numbers 10-24-35-38-41-45-16 which consequently won in
the 2ND category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$ 2,000,000 (Two Million United States Dollars)

Congratulations!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money
Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol To avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the world we hope with part of your
winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million international
lottery. To fill for your claim, please contact our fiducial approve agent,

WESTERN GROUP AGENCY
W.GERTENBACHSTAAT 90
1106 WC AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLAND
TEL:31-612-198-950
FAX:31-84-753-4987
Email:westerngroup5@netscape.net
MR.TOM VAN HORN
(OPERATIONAL DIRECTOR

Remember all winning must be claimed not later than 30th of October 2005.
After this date,all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please
remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
correspondence. Furthermore,should there be any change of address do inform
our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of
staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note:
Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs.Sabine De Kamp.
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam