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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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: "MRS Maria Gonzalez" <uare_lott@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: bon_lott@runbox.com
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 11:28:33 +0200
Subject:


BONO LOTTO INTERNATIONAL
FROM-: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
Email-: uare_lott.yahoo.com
Tel/0034617845438 REFERENCE-: EGGS-541-623-782
BATCH-: 67/80/IPD
Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Bono lotto Winners International
E-mail programs held on the 1st june, 2006. Your E-mail address attached to ticket
number 653-3216-75 with serial Nº:0790 drew lucky star numbers 34-32-90-43-32 which
consequently won in the 3th categor.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of €850,500.00 (Eight Hundred
and Fifty thousand, Five Hundred Euros).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we advise 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
participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over
100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.

This random lucky dip program is sponsored by the world's most formidable computer software
manufacturers(Microsoft) and a host of others, in order to enhance and promote the use of
Internet Explorer Users and Microsoft-wares around the globe. This promotional program takes
place every three year in pre summer season. We hope with part of your winning fund you will
take part in our end of year 50 million Euro International lottery. To file for your claim,
please contact your claim agent: DR. Pedro Castilla (JEMITEX CONSULTS S.A.)
Send your contact details to the above stated email address, so that an agent will direct you
on the steps to make your claim.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than three weeks.After this date all unclaimed
funds will be included in the next stake.Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications Do remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely yours,
MRS Maria Gonzalez
lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam