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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",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:
- 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.
- freelottomgtc@aim.com (AOL Instant Messenger; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Baum, Bill" <Bill.Baum@wgint.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 20:31:57 -0600
Subject: Confirmation/ Email-Ticket Number: GBN-08-23-28-39-48
Confirmation/ Email-Ticket Number: GBN-08-23-28-39-48
Reply to Email: freelottomgtc@aim.com <mailto:freelottomgtc@aim.com> Tel: 0034 672 535 759 (OR) 01134 672 535 759
Dear: Winner,
Following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic On-line Sweepstakes organized by the FREE LOTTO ONLINE PROMOTIONS held on the 31st of January 2011, your electronic email address emerged as one of the on-line winning emails in the 1st category; hence your email address was attached to a cash award of 1,000,000.00 Euros (One Million Euros). We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the claim office immediately upon
receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification,
processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you. Please contact
the claim Office
Contact Person: Mr. Galeno Rawl.
Tel: 0034 672 535 759 (OR) 01134 672 535 759
Reply to Email: freelottomgtc@aim.com
It is important to note that your award information was released with the following particulars attached to it.
Winning Information's:
Email Ticket Number: GBN-08-23-28-39-48
Reference Number: ZCV/0959640
Draw Lucky Number: 07-11-12-18-36-50
Batch/Number: DSL 10/083647/HDN
Serial Number: 0938449903945
Please indicate your Full Name & Telephone Number when contacting your agent:
NOTE: All winning must be claimed not later than 30 working days
Congratulations!!!
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Baum Bill Gomez
Promotions Coordinator.
NB: Please reply back through: freelottomgtc@aim.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
