joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "National Lottery UK." <c_w99210098291@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: national_lotterycustomerservices@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:04:17 -0500
Subject: YOUR WINNING NOTIFICATION.

The National Lottery Logo
The National Lottery
P O Box 1510
Belfast, BT0 6LN
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
                    
                           AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION:
 
We happily announce to you the draw (#909) of the NATIONAL LOTTERY,online Sweepstakes International program held on 20th of January 2007.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:
 
which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 6 plus bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand great british pounds sterling) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.
 
This is from a total cash prize of £10,500,000 shared amongst the first seven (7) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 6 plus bonus.
 
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place weekly.
 
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your £1,500000 (one million five hundred thousand great britain pounds sterling) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.
 
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. Please be warned.
 
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary Agent from Mondays-Fridays, within the hours of 8-16hrs GMT:
Mr.Paul L.Smith

FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
Tel:44-704-010-6141
Fax:44-871-264-2078
E-mail:national_lotterycustomerservices@yahoo.co.uk
 
Good luck from me and members of staff of the NATIONAL LOTTERY. Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than 12th of  February 2007. Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
 
Once again congratulations.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Caroline Wise
Online coordinator for NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program
 
You must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize
The National Lottery Logo


Get FREE Web site and company branded e-mail from Microsoft Office Live

Anti-fraud resources: