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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "LONDON 2012 ONLINE LOTTERY PROMO" <i2005lottery@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 03:57:04 +0000
Subject: YOU ARE ONE OF THE WINNERS

Home 
LONDON2012
PROMOTIONAL DRAW FOR THE 2012
OLYMPIC GAMES IN LONDON
 
 
BATCH: 31/576809/LPPD
REF NO: L2012/23457677/2005.
 
ATTENTION: Dear Winner
 
We wish to inform you of the lottery draws held on 4th of October 2005 to declare the winners of the  PROMOTIONAL DRAW FOR THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES TO BE HOSTED IN LONDON, ENGLAND. You are attached to ticket number 356-00098-3211-222, with serial number 818-09 drew the lucky numbers 67-99-77-79-63, and consequently won the lottery.
 
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of GBP 400,000.00 POUNDS in cash credited to file REF NO: L2012/23457677/2005. This is from total prize money of GBP 6,800,000.00 POUNDS shared among the seventeen international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 17,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe and Middle East and Asia as part of our International Promotions Program for the 2012 Olympic games to be hosted in London, England.
 
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now available for claim. However 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 promotion.
TO BEGIN YOUR CLAIM, PLEASE CONTACT OUR FIDUCIARY CLAIM AGENT WITH YOUR FULL DETAILS i.e. YOU REF NO:,BATCH NO:,SERIAL NO:YOUR FULL NAMES, YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS AS WELL AS YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS, THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW;
 
Mr Henry Roberts
FIDUCIARY /CLAIMS OFFICER
TEL: +44 703-1847-549
Fax; +44 207-900-3949
 
For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember that all prize money must be claimed not later than 14 working days after notice. After this date, all funds will be returned as 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 claims agent as soon as possible.
 
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.
 
Sincerely,
MR GRIAG ALLENBURG

Anti-fraud resources: