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"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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: agnes@ardenneagnes.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:18:05 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Dear Lucky Winner


Dear Lucky Winner
Regarding the above subject matter, be informed of the outcome of the participants, who won the sweepstake program conducted In the first quarter of this year.Your email, attached to ticket number 025-1146-1387, with serial number 213-05 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39 and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved of a lump sum pay of US$:600,000.00(six Hundred thousand united states dollars) cash credited to file No: PS/255/06. This is from the total prize money of US$:20.400.00, shared among the seventeen international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from across the globe as part of our Annual international promotions program. Your fund is now deposited with a finance and security house insured in your name.Please contact our fiduciary agent at,
CONTACT PERSON:MR.DONALD VAN DICK
NETHERLANDS OFFICE ADDRESS:HEMELRIJKEN 100,5612 LB EINDHOVEN - NETHERLANDS.
TEL:0031-644-745-644
FAX:0031-847-151-754
Email:europeasoftwares@aim.com
To begin your claim, for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a nominated account of your choice.We advice that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your prize money remitted to your account. This is part of our security measure to avoid any mix-up. Note: in order to avoid any delay and complication, always quote your file No: PS/255/06, in all your correspondences with your claim agent.Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.
NOTE: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
MRS.AGNES VAN ARDENNE
European Software Producer's Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: