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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. 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 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.
  • +447011133771 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447024031866 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Fiduciary Agent <online_claimsagentuknl1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:54:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Verification Complete, Approved For Payment.(CHOOSE ANY OF THE OPTION)



NATIONAL LOTTERY,
ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES
Claims Department
28 Tanfield Road,
Croydon,London,
England,
United Kingdom. Phone:+447011133771
Fax: 44-702-403-1866
Ref: LSUK/2031/8161/04
Batch: R3/A312-59




FROM: UK National Online Sweepstakes verification unit.

Attn: Kort Kohlmann,

We have received your details and your winnings have been verified, congratulations your funds have been approved for release which will be payed out to you in any way you choose to from the options listed below ;

1. By coming over to our head office here in the United Kingdom to pick up your winnings in cash.

2.By receiving an international cheque cashable in any bank,any where in the world through a secured and trusted courier service.

3.By telegraphic transfer into your private bank account from our official bank.

If you choose coming over to our head office,please kindly let us know when you will be available at our office to
claim your prize. Note that you have a 2 weeks deadline to claim your Prize
before it is refunded to the lottery company.

Please note that a third party is not allowed to make claims on behalf of a winner.
Finally, we advice that at this stage you keep your winning details safe and confidential till you have finally received your winnings.

We will be expecting a speedy reply from you so we can issue out your payment as soon as possible.

Hope to hear from you soonest.

Matlock Allen Richard
Fiduciary Agent Uknl.










GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSE
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration Z720633X).






---------------------------------
For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this month.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam