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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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!
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +447024038037 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Irish Auto Claims Agent <irishautoclaimsagent@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: claimsagent@dublin.com
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 09:13:22 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Processing/ Documentation Officer


FROM THE DESK OF
Mr.Kelvin Broonz
Processing/ Documentation Officer
Documentation /Processing Unit
IRISH-BIGTIME LOTTERY PROMOTION

ATTN: Adalicia Deckermacher,

Thanks for your email and congratulations once again for been among one of the 15-lucky winners of IRISH-BIGTIME LOTTERY .We are to commence the immediate processing and documentation of your prize claims of € 1,000,000-EURO.

To this end, your Winning Cheque of € 1,000,000 EURO and a certified Winning Certificate to certify that you are the true winner of the stated funds is to be processed and documented for your humble self and to this end you are the certified owner of this winning funds to the amount of € 1,000,000- EURO which is to be sent to you with your desired option of redemtion.

Please, note that the required amount for the processing and documentation of your prize claims is £301 POUNDS (or its equivalent in United States dollars,590 USD).This payment is to be made payable via Western Union Money Transfer immediately in the name of our Accounts officer;

Receiver's Name: Thelma Leyton.
Receiver's Location: 7 Dock way,Sefton Business Park,London,T40 4RT,England.

Upon completion of the above payment, please email the following information below as they appear on the Western Union Money Transfer slip to this desk immediately;
1. Name And Address Of Sender
2. Amount Sent
3. Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N.) or Reference Number
4. Test Question And Answer (If Any)

Your winnings shall be processed and documented within 24 hours on confirmation of payment and sent to the proper destination which you have choosen to receive your winning funds which amount to € 1,000,000- EURO only and this will take an immediate effect with your option of redemtion because your parcel have been processed and documented as required by the lottery company.
NOTE: DELIVERY IS "FREE OF CHARGE".

We await your very prompt response. Thank you.

Mr.Kelvin Broonz
Documentation Officer
IRISH-BIGTIME LOTTERY PROMOTION
Documentation /Processing Unit
TEL: +44 702 403 8037


---------------------------------
New Yahoo! Mail is the ultimate force in competitive emailing. Find out more at the Yahoo! Mail Championships. Plus: play games and win prizes.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam