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.

Fraud email example:

From: "uk lotto" <uk_nationallotto7@msn.com>
Reply-To: ventex_service@sify.com
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 15:35:22 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!

ATTN-SIR
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, NATIONAL LOTTERY,U.K.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: OYL /26510460037/02
BATCH: 24/00319/IPD
ATTENTION: Sir
RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement
today, 13th Nov, winners of the NATIONAL LOTTERY,U.K
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 12th Nov 2005.
You are attached to ticket number 023-0148-790-459,
with serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers
43-11-44-37-10-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
out of US$500.000.00 in cash credited to file REF
NO. OYL/25041238013/02. This is from total prize money
of US$80,400,000.00 shared among the seventeen
international winners in this category.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn form 25,000 names from Australia, New Zealand,
America, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia as part of
International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a Security company
insured in your name. 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 money remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid
double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants
of this program.
We hope with a part of your prize, you will
participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3
billion International Lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact your claim
agent; Mr. Smith Phillip ventex_service@sify.com
Vertex Finance Company,
For due processing and remittance of your prize
money. Please send down your
Telephone and Fax nos.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later
than 30th Nov 2005. After this date, all funds will
be returned as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your
reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondences with your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any
change of your address, do inform your claims agent
as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank
you for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
MIKE BALLY
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, NATIONAL LOTTERY,U.K
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of
the winners will result to disqualification

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam