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:
  • "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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.
  • +447045702396 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • e_courierdeliverys@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CLAIMS AGENT LUIS SANTIAGO <luisclaimsoffice01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:26:44 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT ELITE COURIER DELIVERY SERVICES



THE NATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUATERS
The Marina Offices, St Peters Yacht Basin,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX England

Dear Winner,

This is to formerly notify you that after the verification process conducted, I wish to inform you that the Administrative Department and Promotion Department has just approved your payment of 1,000,000 (One million pounds sterling) and the said sum is now deposited in your favour with Elite Courier Service.

Here is your Winning Contact Code (AQ11WWRZZA1).

You are to contact Elite Courier Service with the winning numbers and you are also adviced to complete the form and send it as attachment immediately to Elite Courier Service so that they can proceed with the delivery of your winnings to you as soon as possible.

NAME:.....................................
AMOUNT WON:........................
AGE:.....................................
SEX:.........................................
ADDRESS:.............................
EMAIL:.....................................
PHONE:....................................
OCCUPATION:.......................
COUNTRY:...............................

You are adviced to contact the Elite Courier Service as quickly as possible to redeem your cash prize.

Here is the Elite Courier Service Information:



Customer Service: Mr. Larry Ray

Direct Tel: +44 704 570 2396

Direct Fax: +44 707 505 5820
Email: e_courierdeliverys@yahoo.co.uk

Contact them and get back to us If you need more details or any asistance from us.

Congratulations once more!

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Luis Santiago.


---------------------------------
Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Tryit now.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam