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:
  • "claim 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)
  • "million 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.
  • +27835852071 (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.
  • canadaloto2010@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • macdonald1_2@canada.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • macdonald1_4@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: canadaloto2010@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:42:21 -0800
Subject: VITAL INFORMATION

From: DESMOND JONES
CANADA LOTTERY OFFICE CANADA.
TEL: +1-646-213-2850
FAX: +1-502-470-2962
Email: canadaloto2010@yahoo.ca

Customer Service: 700 CASA 7490
Ref: CASA2010/001000/2007
Batch No: Lotto 6/49
Draw Coupon: Match 1+NS

WINNING NOTIFICATION
THIS LOTTERY IS SPONSORED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE 2010 WORLD CUP TO BE HOSTED IN SOUTH AFRICA.
We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro- American Sweepstake Lottery International programs held Wednesday February 28, 2007 in Essex United Kingdom
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:SA1000 with Serial number 29071 drew the Winning numbers 3/6/12/15/43/44 with a bonus Number 37, for LOTTO 6/49 under the choice of the lottery in the 1st category of daily three. 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 CASA/100034205378/07.

This is from a total cash prize of US $6,680,107.97 Million dollars, shared amongst the first lucky winners in this category Worldwide. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Afro booklet representative office in Africa as indicated in your play coupon, because this particular draw was selected to promote the 2010 World
Cup to be Hosted in South Africa hence your winning information must be kept to enable you participate in our subsequent games before the grand finale. In view of this, your US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) would be released to you by an accredited commercial 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 World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 60,000,00 companies and personal e-mails. 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 corresponding agent in South Africa immediately you read this message for quick and urgent release of your fund, contact information is as follow:

Mr. Mac Donald
Email: macdonald1_2@canada.com
macdonald1_4@yahoo.ca
Tel: +27 835852071

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
1.FULL NAMES:__________________________________
2.ADDRESS:_____________________________________________
____________________________________________
3.SEX:_______________
4.AGE:________
5.MARITAL STATUS:___________________
6.OCCUPATION:________________________
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
8.TELEPHONE_____________________
9. FAX NUMBER:_____________________
10.BANK NAME:_____________________
11.ACCOUNT NAME:_____________________
12.ACCOUNT NUMBER:_____________________
13.SERIAL NUMBER:__________________
14.WINNING NUMBER: ________________________________
15. STATE:__________________________________
16. COUNTRY________________________________

SEND THE FILLED FORM TO:
Upon receipt of the duly requested data, your claim agent will proceed with the release of your winning.
Warm Regards,
Mr. Desmond Jones
Promotion Manager
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program you have successfully won this competition. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam