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: "MCI Networks" <sharon_maxwel001@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 10:52:55 +1200
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

South-West Australia Lottery, 9701 Alexander Mall, Adelaide, South-West Australia. (South-West Australia Lottery is an affiliate of MCI Networks). Santon Square, Complex 21, Netherlands. From. Ms. Sharon Maxwell. Lottery Coordinator. CONGRATULATIONS!!! We are pleased to inform you of the result of the South-West Australia Lottery (international program) held on the 20th of April 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket #: 34002322816 with prize # 92108000/12 drew 1,000,000.00 euros which was first in the 1st Category of the draws. You have been approved to receive 1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros).Because of claims mix-up and the limited time claims pay-outs, we will advice that you keep your winning information confidential until your prize (1,000,000.00)euros has been remitted to you by our accredited paying bank. You must adhere to this instructions strictly to avoid loss of your cash prize,this program has been abused severally, so we are doing all we can to forestall further abuse by way of wrong claims. It's important to note that this draws were conducted formally under the watchful eyes of over 45,000 audiences. Winners are selected through an internet ballot system from 160,000 personal and corporate e-mail addresses. The program sponsored/supported by MCI Networks in conjunction with South-West Australia lottery. Congratulate you once again. We hope you will use part cash prize to participate in our next mega draws of 85million Euros. Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 10-days after you receive this notification. Failure to claim your cash prize after this date will result in prize forfeiture. Please, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember to quote personal and winning numbers in correspondence with paying bank. Please contact the paying bank with your information for the immediate remittance of your funds. Kindly send them the following: (i). your names, (ii) Contact telephone and fax numbers (iii) Contact Address (iv) Your winning numbers (v) Quote amount won. Contact the paying bank with the following: Bank Name: Deutsche Bank NV. Contact person: Mr Alex Clement Deutsche Bank, Amsterdam, Netherlands. E-mail:services12ab@netscape.net Tel: (+31-644-853-140) Fax: (+31-847-235-420) Please be free to contact your claiming bank immediately to proceed with the collection of your winnings. Congratulations once again. Yours in service, Ms. Sharon Maxwell. Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: