joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: Stanley Mann <stanleymann2@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 20:07:31 +0100 (BST)
Subject: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW


Dear Winner,


This responds to your letter of June 15th, 2006.

Firstly, i would like to to commend you for raising such an important issue.
As you already know promotions like this have now been abused by
unidentified persons who parade themselves as representatives of the
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY COOPERATION.

We are aware of these activities.
For instance, last year there were cases where people tried to double-claim winnings claiming that they were issued letters of notification declaring them as winners.

It is at the backdrop of this that we have designed this year's promotion to
ensure protectiveness(for our winners) and forestall fraudulent practises
as it relates to the promotion itself.

However, you shall be sent well documented and laid down instructions that will aid you in retrieving your winnings on time.


Please endeavor to follow these instructions carefully to help facilitate
the processing of your claims and certificate which will facilitate the release
of your winnings.

Feel free to ask questions where you are not too sure as it is my duty
to put you through to ensure the safe claiming of your winnings.

Once again, Congratulations.

Yours Sincerely
Stanley Mann,
Fiducary
British international lottery cooperation
009447024025350




Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam