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: "British International Lottery" <service_online_chambers@msn.com>
Reply-To: nelson_123@exite.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:27:30 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION 06


 
British Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON

  Ref: BTL/491OXI/06
  Batch: 12/25/0304
  WINNING NOTIFICATION
                                              
We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery International Online Sweepstakes International program held on the 25th of Dec. 2005 in London. Your e-mailaddress attached to ticket number: 564 75600545-188 with serial number 5388/02 drew the lucky numbers: 31-6-26-13-35-7,which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category. That is  Match 5 plus bonus as part of the New Year Bonus Programm.  All participants for the online version wereselected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations,Schools,
Clubs and corporate bodies that are listed online.
This promotion takes place monthly.
 
You have therefore been approved to claim atotal sum of £250,000.00( Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterlings ) in cash credited to file BTLNYB/9080118308/06 made available from a total cash prize of US £35 Million Pounds Sterlings, shared amongst the first Hundred (100) lucky winners in this category. Thisyears Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for British Lottery .The estimated £25 million
jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in U.K. history.
 
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in ourplay coupon. In view of this, your £250,000.00( Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterlings ) would be released to you by our payment office in London. Our agent will immediately commence the facilitation of release of your prize money to you as soon as youestablish contact with him. 
 
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of the claim, and beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the endof proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.Please be warned. To file for your claim, please
contact our fiduciary agent with the below details for
processing of your claims.
 
FIDUCIARY AGENT, OVERSEAS CLAIMS UNIT
AGENT: PASTOR SAMMY N. ERIKSON
Tel :+447031945259
 
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our designated agent. Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
 
Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
Sincerely yours,
Happy New Year!!
 
Paul Green
Zonal Coordinator.
 
 
You must be 16 or over to play or 
claim a prize
--

Anti-fraud resources: