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: Microsoft Lottery <microsoft_lottery@mailz.net>
Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2006 16:36:34 +0200
Subject: You have to claim now


MICROSOFT LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS / PRIZE AWARD.
WINNING NOTIFICATION

REF Nº: MIC/26005006/SP/05
BATCH Nº:20044818-06

ATTN WINNER,

We wish to congratulate you over your success in our MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL/WORLD GAMING BOARD computer balloting Sweep stake held on the 26Th May 2006. This is a Millennium scientific computer
games lottery in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging Internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for this draws.

Your email address name attached to a ticket number 05-1010-900 with serial number 9323-06 drew the lucky numbers 6-22-46-47-75-81 which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EUROS ONLY (€950,000.00 Euros) this is from total prize money of
€20,000,000.00 distributed to winners from 1st to 3rd and consolation awards categories.

CONGRATULATIONS:

Your fund is now deposited with our correspondence Bank .Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from Microsoft users from over 20,000 company, and
3,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. this promotional program takes place every three years.

To begin your claim please contact your claim agent Mr.Benjamin Alfonso For processing and remittance of your prize fund into your designated bank account.
COMPANY NAME: Mapfre Seguros S. A.
Address: Avd. del Generalisimo, 30 - 28024 Madrid Spain.
Contact person: Mr.Benjamin Alfonso.
Email: mapfreseguross@netscape.net
Tel: +34 636 941 522

Note: All prize funds must be claimed before the 25Th of July 2006 after this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please endeavor to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us to your claim agent. Furthermore, should there be any change in your address do inform your claim agent as soon as possible. Congratulation once again from all
members of our staff and thank you for being part of our promotion program.

Yours Sincerely,
Benita Lopez Arroyo.
Vice President,
MICROSOFT LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

NOTE; ONLY REPLY TO YOUR CLAIMS COORDINATOR TO CLAIM
YOUR CASH PRIZE.

Anti-fraud resources: