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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "rosalie walker" <rosalie_universalworld@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: universal_wlotto@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 12:01:20 +0000
Subject: CONFIRM RECIEPT....

FROM THE DESK OF:
Mrs. Rosalie Walker
Universal World Direct Lotto
UNITED KINGDOM.
REF NUMBER: REF:YPL/6765005779/02
BATCH: 24/00214/IPD


DEAR ,

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our recent Lottery
Draws held on the 1st November 2005, your e-mail address attached to
ticket number 023-0108-780-365 with serial number serial number 5973-12
drew lucky numbers 7-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd
category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of E1,000,000
(EUROS) (ONE MILLION EUROS).

NOTE:
The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system (ess) from a database of over
250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.
This Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed
by the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This
promotional lottery is the first of its kind and we intend to sensitize
the public.

This promotional program is promoted and sponsored by eminent
personalities like the Sultan of Brunei,and other corporate
organisations. This is to encourage the use of the internet and
computers worldwide.
For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid
double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants.

We look forward to your active
participation in our next E15 million slot.
You are requested to contact our clearance officer below to assist you
with your winnings and subsequent payments. All winnings must be
claimed not later than one month after the date of this notice.
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
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 and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claims
agent :MR DANIEL SOMER

EMAIL : universal_wlotto@yahoo.co.uk

If you do not contact your claims agent within 7 working days of this
notification, your winnings would be revoked.
(IMPORTANT)Winners are advised to keep their winning
details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim pending
the transfer/claim by the Winner.

Congratulations once again!

Regards,

Mrs. Rosalie Walker
Lottery Manager


Anti-fraud resources: