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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "certified bank draft" (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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • eurolottocenter40@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: BECKY HOLMES <eurocampcity07@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <eurocitireviewpaymentoffice@ubbi.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:50:45 +0100
Subject: Information and Payment Bureau.



Dear Winner

We Apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the Inconveniences and Inflict that we might have indulge you through. However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which is Inexplicable,and have held us stranded and Indolent, not having the Aspiration to devote our 100% Assiduity in accrediting foreign payments.

We apologies once again from the Records of outstanding winners due for payment with {DEBT RECONCILIATION}your name and particular was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding winners who have not
yet received their payments.


I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square hole and can be voguish for that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from the record in our file, your outstanding winning payment is US$950.215.00 million (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN UNITED STATE
DOLLARS).

Be inform Payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft or wire transfer into a nominated bank account of your choice, as soon as you get in touched with the Debt
Reconciliation agent below.

=======================================
Mr.Ricardo MaldonadoManager Remittance DepartmentGovernment Accredited Licensed Claim Agent.Information and Payment Bureau.Europe Representative Office.E-mail:eurolottocenter40@yahoo.it
=======================================
Provide him with the following details, as this will enable him to process and release of your
cash prize without any delay.
Your Full Name:..................................
Telephone and fax Numbers:.............
Residental Address:....................
Your urgent reply Mr.Ricardo Maldonado via e-mail:(eurolottocenter40@yahoo.it)will effect the
speedy release of your cash prize to you within 48hours.

Yours Sincerely,Mrs.Becky HolmesPromotion Manager.Information Department
_________________________________________________________________
With Windows Live Hotmail, you can personalize your inbox with your favorite color.
www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/personalize.html?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGLM_HMWL_reten_addcolor_0607

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam