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")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • +447031844077 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • timgreenza@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: claimsdispatcher@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 14:48:38 +0200
Subject: Congratulations!!!

The National Lottery
Euro Sweepstakes
12 Bridge Street,
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.
Ref: uk/4080318306/04
Batch: 19/08/EC11
WINNING NOTIFICATION:

We sincerely announce to you the result of the draw of the Euro Millions 05/20 held on the 22/ 07/ 2006 in London, UK. All participants for the online version were selected randomly from the World Wide Web through a computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000
unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 5436467704 with Serial number: Z87968DX drew the Winning numbers: 6 7 13 28 47 5 8,which subsequently won you the lottery Jackpot.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION POUNDS) in cash,credited to file with reference number: EML/4080318306/05.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet epresentative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, £2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION POUNDS) would be released to you by the paying Bank. To file for your claim, please use the format below, then forward to the fiduciary agent:

MR. Tim Green
UK Lottery
Email: timgreenza@yahoo.com
+447031844077
(Form HLP)

REFERENCE NUMBER: uk/4080318306/04.
FULL NAME.........................................................................................................
COMPANY NAME: ...............................................................................................
FULL ADDRESS:...............................................................................................
SEX:......................(Male).......................(Female)
AGE......................................................
OCCUPATION................................................
TEL.............................FAX.................... (If any)
COUNTRY....................................................
E-MAIL...................................................
HAVE YOU A PASSPORT OR LICENCE.............(identification on delivery)
AMOUNT WON................................................
INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION:
(A) CHEQUE ( )
(B) DRAFT ( )
(C)BANK TRANSFER ( )
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/
INDIVIDUAL:.................................................
...........................................................
____________ ________________
Date. Signature.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam