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:
  • "fiduciary 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!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024037249 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • claimsofficers@postmaster.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: <michealleyden@ny.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 06:01:51 -0500
Subject: ONLINE NOTIFICATION

UK LOTTERY ONLINE NOTIFICATION DESK.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
BRITISH ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration Z720633X).
Dear Winner,
 
We are please to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in the UK
LOTTERY draw held on the 26th june, 2006.. All 10 winning addresses
were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 international
emails.Your email address emerged  alongside 9 others as a category 2 winner in
this year\'s Annual FreeLotto Draw.

Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of
£750,000 (SEVEN FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS) only.The following particulars
are attached to your lotto payment order:

(i)   winning numbers:  37-13-43-85-67-11
(ii)  KTU/9023118308/03
(iii) Batch: 12/25/0304
(iv)  the file Ref number:  Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Please contact the underlisted claims officer as soon
as possible for he immediate release of your winnings:

N.B:Steps to claiming your prize; CONTACT THE FIDUCIARY AGENT

MR:ADAM SMITH
EMAIL-  claimsofficers@postmaster.co.uk
phone number:+44 702 403 7249.+44 702 403 7250

Further information do not hesistate to call Mr Adam
Smith.

1.Name:.............................................
2.Address:..........................................
3.Marital Status:................................
4.Occupation:.....................................
5.Age:.................................................
6.Sex:..................................................
7.Nationality:......................................
8.Country Of Residence:.....................
9.Telephone Number:..........................
10.Fax Number:..................................

NOTE:Winners must send thier names,address,telephone number and means
of identification (international passport or drivers licence)to claim
officer to process immediate payment of their prize.
Once again on behalf of all our staff,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
 
Sincerely,

micheal leyden
Promotions Manager
UKNATIONAL LOTTERY
UK & Europe.

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam