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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "el gordo " (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
  • "liberty seguros" (no such agent exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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 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.
  • jose_pedrogordo@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: euromillloto@normancoote.net
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 12:01:50 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS !!!


El Gordo Primitiva Emails Lottery Spain
Calle De La Castellana
20-22, 28901 Madrid. Spain Branch.
Ref. Nº: ES/997/06/11/MAD.
Batch. Nº: MAD/2907/43/07.
Dear Winner,
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on the 25Th of May, 2007. This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.
Your email address attached to ticket star number (67-80-23- 00-90) drew the primitiva lucky numbers -17-23-25-27-31. with serial number-2. consequently won the draw in the Second category.
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
You have been approve for the star prize of Six Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Euros (625,000.00 Euros)
You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive your lump prize in your account or optional cheque issuance to you. This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may tell as we have had cases like this before,
In other to claim your ( 625,000.00 Euros) prize winning, which has been deposited in a designated bank. However,you will have to fill the form below and send it to our registered claim agent (LIBERTY SEGUROS COMPANY)for verification and then you will be directed to the bank where your winning funds are deposited in your favour.
FULL NAMES:..............
AGE:...............
SEX:...............
ADDRESS:...........
EMAIL:.............
PHONE:.............
OCCUPATION:........
COUNTRY:...........
AMOUNT WON.........
BATCH Nº............
REFERENCE Nº........
Please you are adviced to complete the form and send it immediately to your claims agent (LIBERTY SEGUROS COMPANY) through email to enable them help you processing your claim for prompt collection of your fund from the designated bank.
LIBERTY SEGUROS COMPANY
MADRID SPAIN
Contact person: Mr. jose pedro
(Foreign Services Manager)
Email:jose_pedrogordo@yahoo.es
Note: All prize funds must be claimed before the 16Th of June 2007 after this date all funds will be returned back to the Lottery Company as unclaimed fund.
Congratulations once again.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Raul Manuel Santos
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam