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: "DR. Roland Burne" <freelottocompany2005-6@boxlotto.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 13:40:53 +0100
Subject: Your email has won the lottery.

THE FREELOTTO COMPANY
EU HEAD OFFICE
INTERNATIONAL/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
BATCH NO: FLNL/009842/05.
REF. NO. FLNL/1282664/05

AWARD NOTIFICATION.

We are please to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in the
Free Lotto draw held on the 18th October, 2005. All 10 winning addresses
Were randomly selected from Corporate and individual email addresses
Selected from across the globe as part of our International Promotions
Program which is conducted annually.
Your email address emerged alongside 9 others as a category 3
Winner in this year's Annual Free Lotto Draw. Consequently, you have
Therefore been approved for a total pay out of US$750,000.00
(Seven Hundred & Fifty Thousand United Stated Dollars) only.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember
to quote your reference number and batch numbers:
1, BATCH: FLNL/009842/05.
2, REFERENCE: FLNL/1282664/05
3, lucky numbers 8-16-18-23-31-45
4, lotto code number: FL09622Holland
Please contact the under-listed claims officer as soon as possible for
the immediate release of your winnings:
DR ROLAND BURNE
FORTUNEGATE AGENCY
Tel: 0031-617-610-466
Fax: 0031-847-501-241 EMAIL: fortunegateagency@wowmail.com or
roburne8@netscape.net
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 5th November 2005.
After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please
Remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
Correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do
Inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from
Our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional
Program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
DR. ROLAND BURNE
FORTUNEGATE AGENCY.
THE FREE LOTTO COMPANY
NETHERLANDS & EUROPE LOTTERY.


Anti-fraud resources: