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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: WORLDSOFTWARE1 <worldsoftware1@netscape.net>
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 13:42:28 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!! YOU HAVE WON

254 EGASTRAAT,
354tz
AMSTERDAM,
NETHERLAND.
WROM: TTZRCLBDXRQBGJSNBOHMKHJYFMYXOEAIJ
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT,
SCFN: GWK/5333/025648/03UAD.
BATCH: 241/2002/BLL.
ATTN: CEO,

The CONTENT SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY/PROMOTIONS netherland,is
pleased to inform you that your company/individual name
attached to the ticket numbers 1001-58255563-2285
with serial number 8888/03 drew from the lucky numbers
02-22-00-66-99-85-52-12-36-50, which consequently
won the lottery in the FIRST category. You have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of FOUR HUNDRED
THOUSAND EUROs (400,000.00 EUROE) in
cash credited to security file number
GWK/4578/789834/746YU.This is from a total cash
prize of 19 million EUROE share among ten individuals and Six
international companies lucky winners in this
category.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Your funds is now deposited with our Payment/Finance
Department in the security company to your name ,Due
to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask
that you keep this winning a top secret from the public
notice until your claims has been processed and
remitted to your account as this is a part of the
security protocol, to avoid double claiming or
unwarranted taking advantage of this program by
participants.
All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn from the 100,000 company/individual
email addresses from all over the world as part of
our international promotions program, which we conduct
every decade. We hope with a part of your winnings, you
will take part in our next end of year stake 20 million euro
international lottery.
TO begin your claims, please contact your claim agent in (Lottery payment centre),
MR. David Bradley (Director of operations).
TEL.+31-616248143
Email (financeagents1@netscape.net)
For processing and remittance of your cash to a designated account of your choice. Remember, all
winnings must be claimed not later than 20th october 2005, After this date, All unclaimed funds will be
returned to the promotion company.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your security
credited file number and batch numbers and also with your telephone and fax numbers respectively in
every correspondence with your claim agent. Furthermore,
should there be any change of your address, do inform your claim agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once again from all members of our
staff and thank you for being part of our promotions
program and publication.
Yours sincerely,
MR. KENNETH GRAM.
(Promotion Manager).

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