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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.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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 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.
- mobiledept@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- 2010 mobile uk draw, claim code:1062. for claims email ( mobiledept@aim.com ) winners may be required to come to the uk to collect their (Aim; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mobile lotto" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mobiledept@aim.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:35:43 -0000
Subject: Congratulations
Dear Winner
Your email address has won Two Million Pounds in our 2010 Mobile UK draw, claim Code:1062. For claims email ( mobiledept@aim.com )
Winners may be required to come to the UK to collect their prize cheque in person well within the stipulated claim deadline of 5 days from receipt of winning notification, in cases whereby winners cannot come, a courier service will be used to mail your winning.
At no point does Mobile Lotto UK charge any kind of fee or request for any amount of money from winners to process their claims. Whatever monetary commitments that may be required from winners are done at the sole discretion of the courier company to deliver the cheque to your destination.
Kindly fill the form below for your claims:::::::::
MOBILE LOTTO PAYMENT VERIFICATION FORM
FIRST NAME:
LAST NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY/TOWN:
POSTAL CODE/ZIP CODE:
COUNTRY:
STATE/PROVINCE:
DATE OF BIRTH:
GENDER:
MOBILE NUMBER:
AMOUNT WON:
CLAIM CODE:
OCCUPATION:
EMAIL:
HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR PRIZE?
1. PERSONAL CHEQUE PICK UP? Y for Yes and N for No......................................
2. COURIER DELIVERY? Y for Yes and N for No........................................................
(Courier charges are £250)
Congratulations once more from all of us at Mobile Lotto UK and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Regards
Johnson vanverk
Promotion Manager
10 Lowden Road,
Edmonton, Enfield,
London N9 8RN
mobiledept@aol.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
