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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • freelotto@iol.pt

Fraud email example:

From: "CLAIMS DEPARTMENT" <freelotto2000@walla.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:47:55 +0200
Subject: URGENT!!!


FREE LOTTO WINNINGS
CALLE ALCALA 45
MADRID SPAIN
Prize Remittance Division (PRD)


RE: OFFICIAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

PAYMENT NUMBER : 7253690-ES
F.A.S.T. NO: 33/ES

Dear ,
This email confirms that you have received from the FREE LOTTO WINNINGS
an official notification of your payment number in the
FREE AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION TICKET GAME (F.A.S.T) played on August 10,
2005 at our lottery office complex Madrid,Spain.
You have won a FREE LOTTO PRIZE OF _1.500,000.00 EUROS A prize payout of your
winning has been approved by the FREE LOTTO WINNINGS GROUP. In
accordance with the Spanish award ordinance, you are authorized as the award
prize winner to request claims of your winning prize.
The FREE AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION TICKET (F.A.S.T) GAME is an online
promotional program organized by the FREE LOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL.This
program is sponsored by COCA -COLA,VODAPHONE AND A HOST OF OTHER COMPANIES.
A total of 500,000 different email addresses are entered for the
FREE LOTTO AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION TICKET GAME (F.A.S.T). All email
addressesentered for the game are submitted by our partner international
emailservice providers/ marketing companies and public services providers.
Winners are randomly selected systematically through our Electronic
Random Selection System (ERSS). Your email ID was included among the
500,000 email addresses and entered for Batch 43452 with Ticket No.
6589078 and was luckily selected among 1-5 batch winners.
Note that the FREE LOTTO WININGS will remit prize payout to
only winners who officially file in for their prize claims. You are to
choose one out of the listed option by which you want your prize
remitted to you:
(1) A certified Cheque will be issued in your name and couriered to your
resident address.
(2) Traveling to our office in Madrid for personal collection of winning prize.
(3) Transfering of fund to any Bank account of your chioce in any part of the world.
You are required to file your claims by contacting the OFFICE Prize
Remittance Division EMAIL: freelotto@iol.pt
Completely fill out the Claim Form - E provided herein and submit a
completed filled form via email or fax to the Prize Remittance Division.
Your winning information has been provided above.
===========================================================================
APPLICATION FOR PRIZE CLAIM FORM - E (Receipt Official Notification
Letter)

[PAYMENT NUMBER.. 7253690-ES]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FULL NAME OF
WINNER]......................................................
[RESIDENT
ADDRESS].........................................................
[COUNTRY/ REGION]..................
.............................
[OCCUPATION]........................
[CURRENT EMAIL].....................
[TEL/FAX]...........................
===========================================================================
WINNING INFORMATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[F.A.S.T TICKET NR]........................
23/08/2005..................................
===========================================================================
CLAIMANT SIGNATORY DECLARATION
I ..................................... Declare as the Award prize
winner that all information I have provided for my winning claims are
true and correct information of myself. I agree with the FREE LOTTO
WINNINGS policy and regulation in line with my award
claims.
===========================================================================
Please indicate \"X\" for the option you want your prize remitted to you.
Listed below is our payment modalities and option of payment.
(1) TRAVELLING TO SPAIN FOR YOUR PRIZE COLLECTION:
[.....]
(2) BY COURIER DELIVERY OF YOUR PRIZE CHEQUE:
[.....]
(3) BY BANK TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER
[.....]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS EMAIL WAS SENT FROM THE DESK OF THE ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT FREE LOTTO WINNINGS, ON BEHALF OF F.A.S.T GAMES 2005. CONGRATULATIONS ON
YOUR WINNING.
SINCERELY,
GEORGE BRANDSON,
GROUP PRESIDENT - FLW

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam