joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447040104120 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mildred Hugo" <uk_lotter02@msn.com>
Reply-To: paulvan101@walla.com
Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 01:04:43 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

The National Lottery
EURO MILLIONS PROMO/PRIZE:DEPARMENT
Blanchardstown Corporate Park 2,
Blanchardstown,
Dublin 15
Ireland.
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch:074/05/ZY369
Fax:44 (0)87-1239-1035
FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Dear Lucky Winner,
RE:BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION
   We are pleased to notify you the draw  of the EURO MILLIONS PROMO/PRIZE:DEPARMENT Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on Friday  august,2 2005.Participants were selected through a
computer ballot system drawn from a pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished professionals drawn from Europe, America,Asia, Australia,New Zealand, Middle-East, parts of Africa, and North & South
America as part of our international promotions programme conducted annually to encourage prospective overseas entries.We hope with part of your prize awards, you will take part in our subsequent lottery
jackpots.
    The result of our computer draw selected your name and email address attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 03,09,35,39,42,with luckystars
(01),(08), which subsequently won you the lottery inthe 2nd category i.e.5+1 star Category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum
of ¤1,737,262 (One million, Seven hundred and thirty seven thousand, Two hundredand sixty two euro) in file kTU/9023118308/03.
     This is from a total cash prize shared amongst the first Six (6) lucky winners in this category i.e.5+1 star Category.Yourprize award has been
insured in your name and is ready for claims.
    To begin your claims therefore, you are advised to expeditiously contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for Overseas Lottery Winners within a period of 21 days (date of this email inclusive) for the processing of your winning and remittance to your designated bank account after all statutory
obligations have been satisfactorily dispensed with.
    This promotion takes place weekly. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our uropean booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.
    In view of this, your ¤1,737,262  (One million, Seven hundred  and thirty seven thousand, Two
hundred and sixty two euro) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.   Please be informed that claims not processed within the stipulated period may be forfeited to the pool
without further notice.
    Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds  as soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish contact via e-mail with the particulars presented below  citing the batch and reference numbers to
this letter between the hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on
Monday through Friday.
Overseas Claims Unit
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: Mr.Paul Vanfrant.
Email:paulvan101@walla.com
Phone: +44-70-4010-4120
    Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality,and press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to
circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary measure
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,
Mrs.Mildred Hugo

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam