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: "stakes lottery" <universal_stakes_lottery10@msn.com>
Reply-To: coordinator_usl@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 15:14:11 +0000
Subject: LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION !!!.

UNIVERSAL STAKES LOTTERY,
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
UK LONDON.
LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION !!!.
Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the
UNIVERSAL STAKES LOTTERY(INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS) Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 013-2646-2004-477, with serial number A025-04 drew
the lucky numbers 39-13-34-85-56-42, and consequently won in category C.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,500,000.00
in cash credited to file REF NO. VLI/62- B773525551.This is from total prize
money of US$20,500,000.00 shared among the fifteen (15)international
winners.

All participating e-mail addresses were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from 300,000.00 e-mail addresses from Australia, Africa,New
Zealand, America, Asia, Europe,USA and North America as part our
International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually in which your
e-mail address won in category C.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with BARCLAYS BANK London. Due to the mix up of
some numbers and names,we ask that you keep this award strictly from public
notice until your claim has been processed and your winning claim
successfully.

All we want from you are as follows:
(1) Your Name.
(2) Your Telephone and Fax Numbers.
(3) Your Contact Address.
(4) Your Age.

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address,do inform your
claims officer as soon as possible. We expect your reply soon as to proceed
further. All prizes must be claimed within three months. NOTE: If you are
under the age of 18, you are automatically disqualified for this star prize.

Sincerely,

JAMES SCOTT,
ONLINE COORDINATOR
UNIVERSAL STAKES LOTTERY(INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS).
E_MAIL coordinator_usl@yahoo.co.uk
MOBILE_447769506755



--

Anti-fraud resources: