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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447092887781 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447045700463 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Smith Anderson Prize Desk Dept" <prizedesk_smith@myway.com>
Reply-To: prizedeskclaim@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 05:03:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: PAYMENT OPTION ON WINNINGS PAYOUT........Mr Foerstmann




Ref: UK/9420X2/68Batch: 074/05/ZY369TICKET No: 6422-5-486SERIAL No: 59-18 DRAW NUMBER: 1136WINNING/LUCKY No: 23, 24, 28, 33, 34 (18)FUND CREDITED FILE KTU/9023118308/03 Dear Prize Winner(Foerstmann), Am directed by management to inform you that we have processed your payment,with the particulars record from your winnings information and Form. Your cheque and all relivant documents of claims, ready for disbursement. In this regard you are to choose from the options below that best suites you, on how you wish to receive your funds.Kindly note that your funds deposited with us is in liquid form and in Bank Cheque, this is in compliance with the section 2,sub section (iv) of the procedural manual of the funds disbursement agreement existing between courier companies and the British Government disbursement of the funds . The options to receive your winnings are: PAYMENT OPTION (CHOOSE AND TICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS BELOW): 1. You can come down in person to collect
your funds at our payment center in London,where there is availability of fund. You will be required to present a valid International Passport as proof of Identification amongst other documentation of your winnings information and other procedures which will be required if you,if you choose this option. 2. (CHECK)HOME DELIVERY BY OUR AFFILLIATED COURIER SERVICE:.........................................................................................
3. CASH WIRE TRANSFER:...............................................................................................................BANK TRANSFER (STATE BANKING DETAILS )................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. The reason for the Courier and wire transfer Service option is based on the fact of double taxation, that is if you are to come over to sign for the release of your winnings personally, you would have to pay taxes on the winnings in UK and then go and pay taxes on the same winnings in your country once the funds get there. In the light of the above you are adviced to choose from the options given to you. That
is to say if you opt for courier service and wire transfer, you are to notify this office that we may forward your Cheque, Winning Certificate and other vital Documents of Claim per your request to be courier to you,in compliance with the courier procedure to disburse your fund to you.Note that you are required to keep your winnings information to your self, to avoid double claims by unknown person and so that your Goverment will not tax your winnings upfront before it gets to you. DECLARATION: I,………………………………………………………………………….HEREBY DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM THE AWARDED NATIONAL LOTTERY , NOR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY FILED CLAIM ON MY BEHALF. I THEREFORE, AUTHORIZE AWARDED NATIONAL LOTTERY TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE PROCESSING OF MY PRIZE WINNING.
SIGNATURE:………………………………… DATE:……………………………………… NOTE: THIS (PAYMENT OPTION) SHOULD BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT AND RETURNED BY EMAIL OR FAX WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIVING THIS FORM WITH A PHOTO COPY ID FOR DUE VERIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION FOR CLAIMS OF FUND.
Note: You are required to click the reply button,to enable you fill this form properly.
We are glad to be of service to you. Treat with dispatchYours Faithfully,


MR.SMITH ANDERSONFiduciary Claims Agent,TEL: +44 -704-570-0463TEL: +44 -704-570-0460FAX: +44-709-288-7781
*Copyright (C) 2006-2007 Lotto. All Rightsreserved

_______________________________________________
No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.
Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam