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: "MRS. VANESSA VAN DONG" <vannesa@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: infonationloto@netscape.net
Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 14:28:51 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!

NATIONWIDE GROUP INCORPORATED
SUBSIDIARY OF LOTTO NL BV
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.THE NETHERLANDS
REF: N.L.I-BV AMSNL147/04
BATCH: 12/25/DC24
SERIAL NUMBER: 5388/04

WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the NATIONWIDE GROUP Lottery International programs held on the 11th May 2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 4411465886-629 with serial number 5388/04 drew lucky numbers 7-14-17-23-31-44, which consequently won in the 2nd category; you have therefore been approved for a lump-sum pay amount of US$500,000.00 ( Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar) Only.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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, this is part of our security strategy to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000 companies and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.

This promotional program take place every second quarter of the Year, We hope that with your winning, you continue to participate on this annual lottery promotions conducted by our joint corporation.

To file your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Mr. Johnson Van sal
Nationwide Payment Office
Subsidiary of Lotto NL Bv
Email: infonationloto@netscape.net <mailto:infonationloto@netscape.net>
Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE of THE NETHERLANDS will be required to make a NON DEDUCTABLE advance payment of processment and legal documentation charges of (€650 .10 Cent) Six Hundred And Fifty Euro Ten Cent, to enable our legal department acquire Notorisation papers from the Court prior to award payment policy as required by the paying Securiry Company.
Please be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by our Processing Agent that would be designated to your file, for due processment and remittance of your winning prize to your designated account of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 10th of June 2005. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed,funds will be included in the next stake, which will be held in December 2005.In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from members of staff, we wish to thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Vannesa Van Dong (Lottery Co-ordinator)
NATIONWIDE GROUP INCORPORATED
Subsidiary of Lotto NL BV.




Anti-fraud resources: