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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: "eze meloo" <ezemeloo@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 18:37:27 +0000
Subject: ATTN: LUCKY WINNER,

HEAD OFFICE
EURO-AFRO SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY NL.
BURDENSTREET 21B
1053 DS AMSTERDAM,THE NETHERLANDS.
FROM:THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:HWS/2002292201/04
BATCH:19/204/JJS.

ATTN: LUCKY WINNER,
WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We are pleased to inform you about the release of the EURO-AFRO SWEEPSTAKE
LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS HELD ON THE 6th of October 2004,your name
attached to ticket number:677-4834490301 with seria number 6599/04 drew the
ucky numbers:4-33-26-40-56-78,which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd
category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
USD$1MILLION in cash credited to fileWS/2002292201/04.This is from a total
cash prize of USD$10MILLION shared among the ten international lucky winners
in this category.
Furthermore,your lucky winning number falls within our African booklet
representative office in Lagos,Nigeria as indicated in your play coupon.

In view of this,your USD$1,000,000.00[ONE MILLION US Dollars]would be
released to you by our banker,UNION BANK PLC.CONGRATULATION. YOUR Fund has
been therefore deposited with our banker in your name from where it would be
released to your nominated bank account.
Due to the mixed up of some numbers and names,we ask that you keep this a
top secret from the public notice until your claim has been processed and
your money remitted to your account as this is part of the security
protocools to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this
programs by participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form
25,000 company email addresses and 30,000,000 individual email addresses
from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as part
of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
To begin your claim,you should first acknowledge receipt of this
notification through the above email address. Endevour to include your full
recent contact address, telephone/fax numbers and your bank account details
where you want this fund transfered to while replying this notification.
As soon as you confirm receipt of this notification,you shall
beadvised/directed on how to contact the paying bank for processing and
remittance of your fund to your nominated bank account.

Remember,all winning must be claim not later than 24TH OCTOBER 2005 AND
AFTER THIS DATE ALL BE RETURNED AS UNCLAIMED.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please remember
to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address,do inform us as soon as
possible.
Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being
part of our promotion program.

Reply to ezemeloo10uk@yahoo.com
BEST REGARDS.
EZE MELOO
MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
PRIZE AWARD DEPT


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