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")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • infotrustservice@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "info mailer" <infomailersec43@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 01:44:17 +0000
Subject: Your Email Have Won A Lottery.

Euromillion Español
Paseo De La Castellana
15-89, 28008 Madrid.
Spain Branch.

Ref. Nº: ES/007/05MAD.
Batch. Nº: GHT/2907/05.

YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer
balloting sweepstake held on 5th oct, 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 star number (4-5) drew the EUROMILLION
lucky numbers 3-19-26-49-50 which consequently won the draw in the Second
category. You have been approve for the star prize of EUR € 667,248.26. (Six
Hundred And Sixty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred And Fourty Eight Euros. Twenty
Six Cents)

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive
your lump prize in your account or optional cheque issuance to you. This is
a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may tell as we
have had cases like this before, please send your winning ticket, reference
numbers and amount won information for processing of your winning fund to
our registered claim agent in addrres below.

Mr. Natalia Veta..
Capital Trust Security Service.
Avd. De Los Americas 46.
C.P. 28006 Madrid
Spain.
infotrustservice@netscape.net

All prizes must be claimed within three weeks of your reply.

Best regard,
Mrs.Angela Jesusa.
( Promotion Director )

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam