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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
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.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million british pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- 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.
- +447031821153 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- accredittedagents@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Lottery Board <sjjza11@hotmail.it>
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 14:08:55 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NOMINATION AND CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT
IMMEDIATELY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS MANAGERBLOOMSBURY LONDON UNITED KINGDOM WC1B 4AR.REFERENCE NO: MSW-L/200-26937BATCH NO: 2005SEPTL#22WINNER NO: 5 DEAR WINNER, INTERNATIONAL AWARD COOPERATION MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT YOU ARE A WINNER IN OUR ANNUAL LOTTERY CONDUCTED IN AFRICA. YOUR PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS OR COMPANY EMAIL WAS ATTACHED TO MSWLL. WITH SERIAL NUMBER S/N-00168 DREW THE LUCKY NUMBERS 887-13-865-37-10-83, AND CONSEQUENTLY WON IN THE FIRST LOTTERY CATEGORY. YOU HAVE THEREFORE BEEN APPROVED FOR LUMP SUMS OF ₤1,000,000 (ONE MILLION BRITISH POUNDS) PAYABLE IN CASH.
SO YOU ARE ADVICED TO CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT IMMEDIATELY WITH THEIR CONTACT DETAILS BELOW FOR PROCESSING AND TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND:
NAME:MR JULIUS ARNOLDTEL NOS:+44 703 182 1153,+44 703 182 1291 AND +44 703 182 1321EMAIL ADDRESS:accredittedagents@yahoo.co.uk
REMEMBER, ALL PRIZE MONEY MUST BE CLAIMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ALL FUNDS NOT CLAIMED ON OR BEFORE THE FIXED DATE WILL BE RETURED AS UNCLAIMED AND DONATED TO CHARITY ORGANIZATION IN AFRICA .
SINCERELY, MRS GRACE A DAVE (CO-ORDINATOR).
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:
