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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• 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.
  • +34653704982 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • infolacaixabk88@aol.com

Fraud email example:

From: "EURO -MILLION" <onlinenlpromo4@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 08:22:32 +0800
Subject: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTION MANAGER

EURO LOTTERY PROMOTION

THE DESK OF THE PROMOTION MANAGER
EURO MILLION PROMOTIONS / PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF NO: MMIL/3762367224/05 BATCH NO: 2177/005/MMD
Email :infolacaixabk88@aol.com

ATTN:THE WINNER OF TICKER NO: 42230113691/2

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the result of the EURO
-MILLION SPANISH LOTTERY END OF YEAR HIGHSTAKE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on
2007 in Spain Madrid. Your name attached to the ticket number
42-23-0-113-69-1/2 with serial number 7773-06 drew the lucky number
736-22575993-86 which consequently won the lottery in the category A.

This is a Millennium Scientific Computer Lottery in which email addresses
were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users,
therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of
$1,500,000.00(One Million, Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars)which was Awarded to your Email Address when rolled in an Email
Sweepstakes program held by the Euro Millions INTERNATIONAL EMAIL PROMOTION.

To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as soon
as possible for the immediate release of your winnings,You must contact the
PAYING BANK with your Full Names,Contact Telephone Numbers (Home, Office
and Mobile Number and also Fax Number)and also with your winning
informations via email to process the immediate payment of your prize.The
Validity period of the winnings is for 30 working days hence you are
expected to make your claims
immediately, any claim not made before this date will be returned to the
MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA.

CONTACT DETAILS
CONTACT PERSON:MR ANDREW WOOLLEY
BANK NAME :LA CAIXA BANK MADRID
CONTACT EMAIL:------- infolacaixabk88@aol.com
TELEPHONE : +34-653-704-982
FAX +34-653-704-982

Note. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your
correspondence with us or your agent Furthermore, should there be any change
of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being
a part of our promotion program.

Yours truly,
ANNA MARIA
Promotion Manager.
THANK YOU AND
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam