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 director" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +447035976727 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: <abakah@unfpa.org>
Reply-To: claimsdirector777@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:20:16 -0700
Subject: Ref: CLUK/475061725



We are delighted to inform you that your EMAIL Account has won you
500,000 GBP from the City Lotto program held in London.
You are to contact the claims director with the following:
Ref: CLUK/475061725,
Batch: 7056490902/188 and
Serial Number: 7917/06
Contact: Mr. David Newton
Email:mrdavidnewton3337@live.com
Telephone::+44 7035 976 727
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Ian William

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam