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")
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447946599633
• 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.
  • lotwinners@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "The Lotto promoters" <d_higgs@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 00:05:56 +1000
Subject: DrfhpdIt is yours

Hi, The National Lottery P O Box 1010 Liverpool, L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM (Customer Services) Ref: UK/9420X2/68 Batch: 074/05/ZY369 Website:http://www.lottery.co.uk Results:http://www.lotteryco.uk/res/Default.asp WINNING NOTIFICATION: Dear Lucky Winner, RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION We write to notify you of the draw (999) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on 21st January 2006 Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from a pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished professionals drawn from Europe, America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts of Africa, and North & South America as part of our international promotions programme conducted annually to encourage prospective overseas entries. We hope with part of your prize awards, you will take part in our subsequent lottery jackpots. The result of our computer draw (#978) selected your name and email address attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 01 25 26 27 39 49 37 (Bonus Ball), which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,856,652 (One Million Eight Hundred AND Fifty Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Two Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of £ 29, 706 432 shared amongst the first Sixteen (16) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 5 plus bonus. Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claims. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised to expeditiously contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for Overseas Lottery Winners within a period of 21 days (date of this email inclusive) for the processing of your winning and remittance to your designated bank account after all statutory obligations have been satisfactorily dispensed with. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your £1,856,652 (One Million Eight Hundred AND Fifty Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Two Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by the accredited payment offices in Europe. Please be informed that claims not processed within the stipulated period may be forfeited to the pool without further notice. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish contact via e-mail or telephone any time with the particulars presented below citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter. UK NATIONAL LOTTERY: WINNING PRIZE CLIAMS- LOTTERYCLAIMS APPLICATION FORM-C (Prize Winning Receipt) =========================================================== [FULLNAME OF WINNER]....................................................... ........ [CURRENTADDRESS]........................................................... ............. [COUNTRY/REGION]................................ [STATE/PROVINCE]...................................... [AGE]............. [SEX]................................... [MARTIALSTATUS].............................. [OCCUPATION]............................................................... . [CURRENTEMAIL]......................................[TEL/FAX].............. ........................ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- ENTRY WINNING INFORMATION --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- [ENTRY TICKET NR].................................. [DRAW DATE].................................... CLAIMANTSIGNATORY DECLARATION I,.....................................HEREBY DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY FILLED CLAIM ON MY BEHALF TO NATIONAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION. I, THEREFORE REQUEST THAT NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING PROMOTION TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE PROCESSING AND TRANSFER MY PRIZE AS INSTRUCTED BY ME. =========================================================== Overseas Claims Unit United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary Contact Person: Kate Paulson Email: lotwinners@netscape.net Tel: +44 794 659 9633 Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. CONGRATULATIONS!!! At your disposal, we remain. Very Truly Yours, Mrs Scott Voke. Cwsgveix --

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam