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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +27730481885 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • james.khumalo@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lottery Lottery" <rose_albert4@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:57:42 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS (YOU HAVE WON)

BRIGHT LOTTO

ANTWOORDNUMMER 15701,

1020 VG, AMSTERDAM, THE
NETHERLANDS.

Ref: BTLP/841OFI/04

Batch: 04/04/VA43

WINNING NOTIFICATION:

We happily announce to you the draw of the Bright Lottery International
Programs held on the 29th of July 2006 in Bangkok , Thailand. Your e-mail
address Attached to ticket number:0013565 188 with Serial number 286/03 drew
the lucky Numbers:0328904411, which subsequently won you the lottery in the
category (A).

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$1,000,000.00(One
million United States Dollars) in cash credited to file kcy/8012130/04.This
is from a total cash prize of US $ 10 Million dollars, shared amongst the
first Ten (10) lucky winner) lucky winners in this category A). Please note
that your lucky winning number falls within our African booklet
representative office in South Africa as indicated in your play coupon.

In view of the above, your, 1000,000.00 USD (One million United States
Dollars) would be released to you by our corresponding bank in South Africa.
Our African agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

All participants were selected randomly from Worldwide Web site through
computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 websites.

This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised
to keep your winning information Confidential till your claims is processed
and your money remitted to you in whatever Manner you deem fit to claim your
prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.

Please be warned.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:

Name: James Khumalo

Tel number: +27-73-048-1885

E-mail: (james.khumalo@hotmail.co.uk)

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our designated agent or
us.

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.


Congratulations

Mrs.Rose Albert.

_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live™ Messenger has arrived. Click here to download it for free!
http://imagine-msn.com/messenger/launch80/?locale=en-gb

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam