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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • william_janes20@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • williamjanes20@uku.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "jennifer smith" <sweepstatk_lottery07@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 03:40:57 +0000
Subject: YOU HAVE JUST WON £3,500, 000.00 pound starling ONLY CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Sweepsstake International Lottery
Affiliate of International Lottery organization.
14 Fox Rd, Suite 321. London W4 3RW England

WINNING NOTIFICATION:

Dear Lucky Winner,

We happily announce to you the draw of the Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on the 1st of January 2006 in London England. Your e-mail address attached to

 

ticket number: 644 79543465 B4115
Serial Number: 6395-408AK
Batch Number: A51/10872004JJE,
Lottery Reference Number: 6376527711

 

which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £3,500, 000.00 (Three Million,Five Hundred Thousand pound starling) which is equivalent to US$7,000, 000.00 (Seven Million US Dollars only). This is from a total cash prize of £29.73054 Million pound starling, shared amongst the first (10) lucky winners in this category.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in London as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your £3,500, 000.00 (Three Million,Five Hundred Thousand pound starling) which is equivalent to US$7,000.000.00 (Seven Million US Dollars only) would be released to you by the Sweep Stake and our paying bank in London. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 individuals and companies through their credit card play. This promotion takes place only for this season before play coupon begins.

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 is to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned! To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:

MRS.WILLIAM JANES Email: = william_janes20@yahoo.co.uk or; williamjanes20@uku.co.uk

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, you are to contact Mrs. William Janes with followings details below:

1. Your full name, telephone, contact address, sex and occupation
2. Quote your Ticket number 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 promotional lottery program.

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT MRS. WILLIAM JANES

 

DIRECTLY.

Best Regards,

Mrs. Jennifer Smith
SWEEP STAKE Zonal Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam