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:

• 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.
  • +447045708575 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Alan Smith <alansmith_ukclaims@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 02:04:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attn: Winner


FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY

UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM

11 camelot close, Thamesmead, SE28 0ES

Attn: Winner,
Thank you for contacting us at the Due Process Unit. We are assigned to render advice and assistance inline with your winning claim process.

The United Kingdom Lottery Board has finally conducted its lottery for 2007, our aim was developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the ever-growing number of participants in our various lottery programs. This is a promotional draw that officially launches the Lotto- 2007, with funds accrued exclusively from previous draws. Payouts to all winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time.

After randomly selecting 25 participants from an initial database of 25,000 emails and zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as ONE of the TWO consolation prize winners of theUnited Kingdom Lottery Promotion .

This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of instructions relating to the payment of your lottery winnings. You are to send the following information for your claims
1. Your full Names
2.Contact /Postal Address:
3.Age /Date of Birth:
4:Tel/Fax Number:
5.Any form of Identification (E.G International Passport or Drivers Liscence)
6.Nationality
7 Present Country:
8.Marital Status
9.Amount Won:
10.Ref/Batch Number :

We look forward to receive receipt of your information.
Congratulations once again on your winning.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr Alan Smith
(DPU Information Officer)
Tel: +44-704-570-8575
Fax: +44-700-596-1529


---------------------------------
Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows.
Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam