joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: STAR LOTTO <clarajohnson30@handbag.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 03:37:55 -0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

Ref: OYL//470081557065/09
Batch: 24/00319/IPD

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION AND FINAL NOTICE

WE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, 6TH OF NOVEMBER
2004, OF WINNERS OF THE STARLOTTO INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.
YOUR DETAILS, ATTACHED TO TICKET NUMBERS 759-1228-6255-091, WITH SERIAL
NUMBERS 9575-66 DREW THE LUCKY NUMBERS 2 22 29 77 56 70. YOU HAVE
THEREFORE BEEN APPROVED FOR A LUMP SUM PAY OUT OF $1.000,000 DOLLARS IN
CASH,(ONE MILLION DOLLARS) CREDITED TO FILE REF NO. REF:OYL/470081557065/09. ALL
PARTICIPANTS
WERE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPUTER BALLOT SYSTEM DRAWN FROM OVER
30,000.00 COMPANYS AND 30,000.00 INDIVIDUAL EMAIL ADDRESSES AND NAMES FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD AS PART OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS PROGRAM.
CONGRATULATIONS! DUE TO THE MIX UP OF SOME NUMBERS AND NAMES, WE ASK THAT
YOU
KEEP THIS,AWARD STRICTLY FROM PUBLIC NOTICE UNTIL YOUR CLAIM HAS BEEN
PROCESSED AND YOUR MONEY REMITTED TO YOUR ACCOUNT. THIS IS PART OF OUR
SECURITY PROTOCOL TO AVOID DOUBLE CLAIMING OR UNSCRUPULOUS ACTS BY
PARTICIPANTS OF THIS PROGRAM.


WE HOPE WITH A PART OF YOUR PRIZE, YOU WILL PARTICIPATE IN OUR NEW YEAR
HIGH STAKES $18.3 MILLION DOLLARS INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY. TO BEGIN YOUR
CLAIM, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS AGENT.
GERARD HORST,FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
EMAIL:starlotto2003@nescape.net,starlotto2004@nescape.net

TELEPHONE: +31-650-902-063
FOR DUE PROCESSING AND REMITTANCE OF YOUR PRIZE MONEY TO A DESIGNATED
ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE.REMEMBER, YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT NOT
LATER THAN 25TH OF NOVEMBER, 2004. AFTER THIS DATE, ALL FUNDS WILL BE
RETURNEDAS UNCLAIMED.

NOTE: IN ORDER TO AVOID UNNECESSARY DELAYS AND COMPLICATIONS, PLEASE
REMEMBER TO QUOTE YOUR REFERENCE AND BATCH NUMBERS IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR
CORRESPONDENCES WITH YOUR AGENT.
FURTHERMORE, SHOULD THERE BE ANY CHANGE OF YOUR ADDRESS, DO INFORM YOUR
CLAIM'S AGENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN FROM ALL OUR
STAFF AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM.

SINCERELY,

CLARA JOHNSON

LOTTERY CORDINATOR,
STARLOTTO INTERNATIONAL.

N.B. ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE
WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION. PLEASE DO NOT
REPLY TO THIS MAIL. CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT


Anti-fraud resources: