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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: info@powerball
Reply-To: anitahanford04@hutchcity.com
Date: 9th September, 2005
Subject: YOU JUST WON A SUPER LOTTO

From: Mrs Anita Hanford
Power Ball Organization.
Louisville, KY.
File number: 880-063-12980
Batch number: 37/01/SPB550
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the Super Lottery programs held on the 29th of July 2005 in Louisville, Kentucky. Your e-mail address was matched to ticket number: SP4556 0978645 with Serial number 5764987 drew the winning: 29/37/66/29/677, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$1,122,000.00(One Million One Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand United States Dollars Only) in cash credited to file number SPLO/37700075341/05. This is from a total cash prize of US$40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Dollars) shared amongst the first Twenty One (21) lucky winners in this category world-wide.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our AMERICAN/EURO/ASIAN booklet representative office in Atlanta as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your US$1,122,000.00 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand United States Dollars Only) would be released to you by our Debt Clearing Unit in New York. Our Debt Clearing Unit will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your winning amount as soon as you contact them. Be informed that all participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 17,000,000 companies and individuals.
This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are
Advised to keep your winning information strictly confidential till your claims is processed and your winning amount is remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our Precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.
Please be informed that all winning must be claimed before 31 days receive this information and to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our Debt Clearing Unit in New York.
You are advised to acknowledge the receipt of this information in order to give you a guide line on how to contact our Debt Clearing Unit in New York.
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program that has successfully won this competition. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery Program.

Sincerely,
Mrs Anita Hanford

If this information is transmitted to your email address, then you are a successful winner. Any review, Retransmission, dissemination or Other use of this Information, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information, by person or entities other than the Intended recipient Is prohibited.

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