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: "UK LOTTO WINNERS" <lottoukdec2005@msn.com>
Reply-To: lottoukdec2005@atlas.cz
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 12:14:09 +0000
Subject: YOU ARE A WINNER!!! CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU ARE A WINNER!!! CONGRATULATIONS.

UK-LOTTO HEADQUARTERS:
45 ELMDENE RD WOOLICH,
SE 16 TZ,UNITED-KINGDOM.
Customer Service
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369


WINNING NOTIFICATION:


We happily announce to you the draw(#983) of the UK-LOTTO SweepstakeLottery
International


programs held on the 25TH NOVEMBER 2005.in LEEDS UNITED-KINGDOM. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number5368/02
drew the lucky numbers: 14 18 29 33 37 39 47


which subsequently won you the lottery in the 1st category.You have
therefore been approved to claim a total sum of L 1,000,000(One Million
Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03.All participants
were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system
and extracted from over 100,000 companies.This promotion takes place
annually.Please note that your lucky winning number falls with! in our
European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play
coupon.In view of this,your L 1,000,000(One Million Pounds Sterling) would
be released to you by our payment office in europe.Our European agent will
immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as
soon as you contact him.For security reasons,you are advised to keep your
winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your
money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your
prize.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please be
warned.



To avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please quote your
reference/batch numbers and winning numbers in any correspondences with us
or our designated agent.


Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program. Thank
you for being part of our promot! ional lottery program.


Sincerely,


SIR SHAW ERIC

Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program


Anti-fraud resources: