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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES" <iels@webmail.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 15:11:10 +0200
Subject: REF: AWARD NOTIFICATION NOTICE

INTERNATIONAL EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES
12 PRETORIA CNR, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
FROM THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR
OF THE PRICE AWARD DEPARTMENT
REF: BM/7789452384/04.
BATCH621/1423/DPR.

Hello
Season greetings

REF: AWARD NOTIFICATION NOTICE
Through this medium we wish to notify you on the release of the result of the INTERNATIONAL EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAM held on the 21st November 2004,should there be any discrepancy of number's and address, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Mark Jones (Lottery Agents) that entered your name as one of their dependant clients with reference no BM/7789452384/04 and batch no 621/1423/DPR
In the fifth series from of a pool US$ 750,000,000,00 (SEVEN HUNDRED & FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in cash among the 26 participating finalist playing 6,000 full tickets. Your ticket no which is 116-08375358-252,serial no 99330-1 and the wining no 4-18-19-23-32-39 has been approved for a lump sum payment of US$ 6,250.000.39c (SIX MILLION, TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND, THIRTY -NINE CENTS UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in cash credit to file reference no BQ/8366439644/04.
CONGRATULATION!!!
Due to mixed up of numbers and addresses. I would advice that you keep this award top secret until your claim has been confirmed and price award paid. This part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming unwarranted taking advantage of the above situation.
Please be advised that your fund have been deposited and insured in our corresponding security company in your favor. To begin your claim, please contact DR. Mark Jones the managing director of Mark Jones. (Lottery Agents) on mkjones@webmail.co.za <mailto:mkjones@webmail.co.za>, or +27837252410 for processing and remittance of your fund.
The deadline for the notice 31st January 2005 after which the funds will be returned MINISTERIO DE ECONCNIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed. Congratulations once again from all the members of our staff and thanks for your interest in INTERNATIONAL EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES Note that All participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and web sites. This promotional program takes place every year, and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the Nelson Mandela, Spar companies, Discounts foods, and other corporate organizations. This is to encourage the use of the Internet and computers worldwide and YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE

Yours faitfully
Mr. George Kabbah
(Lottery Coordinated)
INTERNATIONAL EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES
REG No B2899434SA


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