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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +447045721584 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: 318.msn@comcast.net (MICROSOFT LOTTERY BOARD)
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:17:59 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEEN 2008 MSN EMAIL USER AWARD WINNER/FXLICITATIONS POUR XTX GAGNANT DE RXCOMPENSE D'UTILISATEUR D'EMAIL DE 2008 MSN

C'est d'annoncer à vous le résultat des PROMOTIONS BRITANNIQUES de CONSEIL de LOTERIE de MICROSOFT, tenu en ANGLETERRE ET AU PAYS DE GALLES.
Étiez que vous l'email address a émergé en tant que gagnant chanceux de la récompense de loterie d'EMAIL de Microsoft 2008.
Vous avez été approuvé pour un déboursement of£500.000 de somme forfaitaire [cinq houndred mille livres sterling] comptant.
FÉLICITATIONS
Pour déposer votre requête, entrez en contact avec svp l'agent fiduciaire.
M. Pual Harry.
AGENT FIDUCIAIRE
E-Mial : prizeclaims08@msn.com
Téléphone : +447045721584
Bien à vous
M.T.P. Pestea
Microsoft attribuent le coordonnateur

Promotions 2008 de Microsoft de © de copyright. Tous droits réservés


This is to announce to you the result of MICROSOFT UK LOTTERY BOARD PROMOTIONS,held in ENGLAND AND WALES.
Were you email address emerged as the lucky winner of the microsoft 2008 EMAIL lottery award.
You have been approved for a lump sum payout of£500.000[five houndred thousand pounds sterling]in cash.
CONGRATULATIONS
To file your claim ,please contact the fiduciary agent.
MR Pual Harry.
FIDUCIARY AGENT
E-Mial:prizeclaims08@msn.com
Tel:+447045721584
Yours sincerly
Mr. T.P. Pestea
Microsoft Award Co-ordinator

Copyright © 2008 Microsoft Promotions . All rights reserved

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam