419 scam: Dr Jerry Gana <ganajerryson@zwallet.com> WINNING NOTIFICATIONTION!!!.S Lottery HeadquartersON!!!PŒë¸"

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "high insurance policy" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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:
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 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.
- gregosai@virgilio.it (Virgilio, Italy; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Jerry Gana <ganajerryson@zwallet.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:15:07 +0100
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

TOTOCALCIO LOTOMATICO INTERNAZIONALE SPA
ADDRESS:CORSO NOVARA 42 MILANO
BACTH NO: TOLM/EU/0266/90012\/005
REF. No: TOLM/EU/1130/90012/005
WINNING NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE
This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL TOTOCALCIO LOTOMATICO SPA GAMING BOARD held on the 16th of December 2005. Due
to the mix up of number, the results were released on the 19th of December. 2005.
Your email address attached to Ticket No:5026334530 with Serial No
5024572523 drew the lucky numbers of 07-29-33-40-86 which subsequently
won the lottery in the 1st category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of
500,000.00 EUROS(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS ONLY) in
credited to a file reference number TOLM 5026452987 This is from total prize
money of 2,000,000.00 EUROS shared among the international winners in our
1st -5th categories. All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn form 25,000 company email addresses and 3,000,000
individual email addresses from all search engines and website all over
the world as part of International Promotions Program, conducted every
year ,and this is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your funds is now in custody of a financial/
Security company insured in your FILE REFERENCE and covered with HIGH
INSURANCE POLICY
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
winning information confidential until your claims has been processed
and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to
avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants. To process your claim, please contact your file/claim
officer: MR. Greg Osai, TOTOCALCIO LOTOMATICO SPA. on
email to gregosai@virgilio.it. Make sure that you quote your
winning references in all your correspondence with them.
Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE of ITALY will be required to
procure an Affidavits of Lotto Claim/Court clearance certificate from the
Court in ITALY prior to European Gaming Board as required by the paying
Authority.
Please be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly
upon satisfactory Report, For due processing and remittance of your
winning prize to designated account of your choice, please treat as
urgent.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondences with your agent and all reply must be via email as to
ensure the legibility.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible.
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 12th of January
2006.
After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next
stake.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for
being part of our promotional program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr Jerry Gana
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam