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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims 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 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.
  • kenterry_claimsagent@yahoo.co.uk
  • kenterry_claimsagent@rediffmail.com
  • adam_lane@rediffmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: collection_winnings2005@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 17:38:35 +0000
Subject: MANCHESTER NATIONAL LOTTERY(CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!)

Manchester National Lottery,
2nd Floor,Maybrook House
17 Blackfriars Street,
Manchester M3 2EG,UK.
Registered in England No. 480523
Charity Registered No. 211775

WINNING NOTIFICATION EMAIL:

Sequel to our lottery draw of which you participated either personally or through a friend or relative on the basis of three ballot papers for a free ballot paper, the draw has just been released having you as one of the fifteen lucky winners in the third category out of three million participants for the prize of £800,000.00 pounds Sterling in the third category.
However, you missed the jackpot of £2,200,000.00 (Two Million Two Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling) in the first category and the second category of £1,500,000.00.
The following are your winnings details which may be required upon claims.
Event No: MNL/012-456-321
Winning No: WIN/457-455-566
Serial No: 0007
Draw No: 389
Your prize of £800,000.00 shall be paid in three installments. This lottery program was organized by our group of philanthropist promoted and sponsored by Mr. Bill Gates of Microsoft Inceminent personalities like the sultan of Brunei,BBC and other corporate organizations.

This lottery program was organized to improving the use of computer softwares and for the benefit of every Microsoft user.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem it fit to claim your prize.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.

Claim Steps:
Contact your Fiduciary Agent for your claims as he would aid you through the process by supplying the above numbers.
Fiduciary Agent:Ken Terry,
Email:kenterry_claimsagent@yahoo.co.uk,
kenterry_claimsagent@rediffmail.com
That way your winnings certificate and all other relevant documents/paperwork can be prepared for you.

Goodluck from me and members of staff of the Manchester National Lottery.
Yours faithfully,
Sandra Williams.
Online coordinator for Manchester National Lottery Program.
N.B: Please do not reply to this mail.

Contact your Claims agent immediately.
WARNING: Do not respond to any email that purport to be ours without any due confirmation especially when you are required to pay upfront for Insurance and Tax.
The courier company is responsible for the insurance of your winnings to the full value. and for Tax, the British Revenue Board shall notify you to remit the Tax due to her after full payment.

Confirm from the customer service person Mr Adam Lane,
email:adam_lane@rediffmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam