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"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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Lary" <lottery_office_2006@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 17:26:10 +0000
Subject: You_Won!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTION MANAGER
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD
DEPARTMENT,REF: EFL/04/736207152/NL
ATTN: AWARD WINNER.
AWARD NOTIFICATION: FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement
today,Feb 23,of winners of the EUROPE LOTTO
Bv/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on july 28th, 2005. Your
e-mail address attachedd to ticket number
EFL754/22/76,EuropelottoBV code number:EFL09622NL drew the
lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-42, and consequently won in
2nd category .Note that No tickets
were sold,all participants in this lottery
program have been selected randomly through a
computer ballot system drawn from over 25,000
addresses individuals and companies from all search
engines and web sites. This promotional program takes
place every year, and is promoted and sponsored by
eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei, Bill
Gates of microsoft inc and other corporate
organisations. This is to encourage the use of the
internet and computers worldwide.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
out of 5,000,000.00EURO(FIVE MILLION) in cash credited
to file REF NO. REF: EFL/04/736207152/NL This is from
total prize money shared among the fifteen
international winners in the 2nd category
CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with a
Finance and Security House and insured in your name.
Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask
that you keep this award strictly from public notice
until your claim has been processed and your money
remitted to your account. This is part of our
security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.To
begin your claim,please contact your claims
officer/Agent immediately:
MRS SANDRA SMITH.
AGENTS FOR PAYMENT
EMAIL :smithsandra2005@netscape.net
For due processing and remittance of your prize money
to a designated account of your choice. Remember,you
must contact your claims officer not later than one
week from the receipt of this mail.After this date,
all funds will be returned as unclaimed.All
correspondences to SANDRA SMITH,either by fax or
email,should have this email sent along with it and
also, your email address to which this email is
sent,should be clearly and boldly written in your response.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your reference
number in every one of your correspondences with your
officer.Furthermore,should there be
any change of your address, do inform your claims
officer as soon as possible. Congratulations again
from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
promotions program.
Sincerely,
Amanda Brooks
Promotions Manager
--

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