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: "NATIONAL LOTTERY" <natlot01@msn.com>
Reply-To: alexanderrichards@mail.md
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:40:08 +0000
Subject: welldone !!!

The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: NLT/46543492672
Batch: NLT/12165430987
Fax:+44(0) 8717338643

FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Dear Lucky Winner,
RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to notify you the draw (#978) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY,
Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on saturday 21st of
Feb2006.
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from a
pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished professionals drawn from Europe,
America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts of Africa, and
North & South America as part of our international promotions programme
conducted annually to encourage prospective overseas entries. We hope with
part of your prize awards, you will take part in our subsequent lottery
jackpots.
The result of our computer draw (#978) selected your name and email address
attached to e-ticket number: 5987654324508 with Serial number 500871276 drew
the lucky numbers: 6779-2113-2803(bonus no.09), which subsequently won you
the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
£1,500.000.00million Pounds Sterling in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of £15,000,000 million
shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match
5 plus bonus.
Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claims. To
begin your claims therefore, you are advised to expeditiously contact our
licensed and accredited claim agent for Overseas Lottery Winners within a
period of 21 days (date of this email inclusive) for the processing of your
winning and remittance to your designated bank account after all statutory
obligations have been satisfactorily dispensed with.
Please note that your lucky winning numbers fall within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of
this, your £1,500,000.00 Pounds Sterling would be released to you by any of
our payment offices in Europe.
Please be informed that claims not processed within the stipulated period
may be forfeited to the pool without further notice.
Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish
contact via e-mail with the particulars presented below citing the batch and
reference numbers to this letter between the hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on
Monday through Saturday
Overseas Claims Unit
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary

Contact Person: Mr Alexander Richards
Email: alexanderrichards@mail.md
Phone: +44 700-3401-593

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 claims. This is part of our precautionary measure
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,
Stella Sanders
The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM


Anti-fraud resources: