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: "Linda Moore" <ukleedsemailgames12@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:35:57 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

LEEDS PROMOTIONS
Airport Hale Rd Halebarns
Altrincham Cheshire WA15 8XW UK
Batch No: WD18/0065/04RN
Our Ref: UKNL/255457004/04

TO WINNERS IN OUR PROGRAM

We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting
sweepstake held on 23rd October 2005.

This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses
were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet
users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for the game.
However, your email address was attached to ticket number 034-22478556;
with serial number 129 draw the lucky numbers

06 09 13 15 40 43 02

which eventually won the lottery in the first category of the draws.
Therefore, you have won a lottery jackpot prize awards of £1,500,000.00
(one million five hundred thousand pounds Sterling Only)This is from
total prize money of US$30,000,000.00 distributed to winners from 1st
to 3rd categories.

Note that this program was largely promoted and sponsored by a group of
philanthropist, industrialists from the internet ware industry and some
other big multinational firms who wish to be anonymous.

You may wish to establish contact via e-mail with the particulars
presented below citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter.
Telephone lines are open between the hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on Monday
through Friday
Customer Service Unit,
Tel/Fax No: +447031902883
Email: ukleedspromo@netscape.net
Contact person: MR STANLEY O'BRIEN.
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and
press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so
desire.

Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of
confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems
associated with fraudulent cliams.
CONGRATULATIONS !
At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,
Linda Moore(Mrs.),
Director.
International Promotions Unit,
UK Leeds Promotions LOTTERY,
Airport Hale Rd Halebarns
Altrincham Cheshire WA15 8XW UK


Anti-fraud resources: