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: "rebecca joseph" <rebeccaj17_microuk@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrfidelixbenson_fb@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:12:42 +0000
Subject: Ref:UK/919347/749-0

 
One of the logos of Microsoft Windows, the Company's best-known product.
      MICROSOFT U-K ONLINE LOTTERY.  
The MicroSoft Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
 LotteryDate: 23rd Jan, 2007
 
                      WINNING NOTIFICATION !
 
Ref:UK/919347/749-0                   
Batch:3566465021-OTA/07
 
Dear Winner,
We happily announce to you today that the draw (#7-28-87-65-69-73) of the MICROSOFT UK ONLINE LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on the 23rd Jan, 2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: G276017-487 with Serialnumber 493-678 drew the lucky numbers:
The Bonus Ball [02] which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 3 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$700,000.00 (Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) credited to file nos KTU/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of US$7,000,000.00 (Seven Million U.S Dollars) shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 4 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 email addresses of unions, associations and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place yearly. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our U-K booklet representative office in London as indicated in your play coupon. In  view of this, Your US$700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) would be released to you by any of our payment offices here in London. Our London 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 until your claim 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 claims agent with the verifivation form below:
 
Overseas Claims Unit
London Fiduciary Agent for MICROSOFT U.K Online Lottery.
His name is Mr. Fidelix Benson. 
From Westham City England.
Tel: +44 701 113 5797
Email: mrfidelixbenson_fb@hotmail.co.uk
 
 
Mr. Fidelix Benson.
 
SO FILL THE CLAIMS VERIFICATION FORM BELOW SEND TO HIM:
 
FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:...........
CONTACT ADDRESS:....................
CITY/STATE:....................
COUNTRY:..........................
NATIONALITY:....................
SEX:......................
AGE:...................
MARITAL STATUS: ......................
TEL NO:  ....................................
NEXT OF KIN:  .................................
MONTHLY INCOME: ......................
OCCUPATION: ........................
AMOUNT WON:.........................
REFENCE NO:................  
BATCH NO:  ..............
LUCKY NO:..................  
TICKET NO  ..............
SERIAL NO:.................  
LOTTERY DATE:  ..........
 
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him on the email and telephone numbers stated above. You may wish to establish contact with him via e-mail with the particulars presented above citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter.  All Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of the proceedings, and beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims.
 
   
 
Yours faithfully, 
Mrs. Rosemary Clair 
Online coordinator for MICROSOFT UK ON-LINE LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program. 

This communication is confidential to MICROSOFT UK ON-LINE LOTTERY and is intended solely for the use of the individual or organization to which it is addressed. it may contain privileged or confidention information. if you have received this massage in error, please notify the originator immediately. if you are not the intended recipient, you should not use, copy, alter, or disclose the contents of this massage.
 
                                    You
 must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize
                      Copyright © 1994-2007 The Micro Soft UK Online Lottery Inc. 
                      All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines
                                        
                      77635 476378 355677461
 
 


Invite your Hotmail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces --

Anti-fraud resources: