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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (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.
  • +447011130840 (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.
  • camelotdelivery@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: MIKE POWELL <claims_agentmikepowell@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 09:58:05 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Contact Our Affiliate Courier Service For The Delivery of Your Winnings Right Away.




The U.K. National Lottery
12 Bridge Street,
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.

Customer Service/Claims Department

Ref: LSUK/2031/8161/05
Batch: R3/A312-59



Dear Mr Valdemarr Wechshagen,


The above subject refers.
In response to your last email as regards your inability to come over to our Disbursements Centre here in England,I would like to inform you that your winnings have been prepared as a cheque which only you as the winner would be able to cash regardless of where you are located.

Hence We have contacted the UK National Lottery Advisory Board and The Internal Revenue Board on this matter and we have decided to send your winning package via a secured and efficient courier service in accordance with your request.



We have contacted our affiliate Courier Company CAMELOT COURIER SERVICE and have directed them to pick up your winning package which contains your cheque, winning certificate and security documents from the National Head Quaters on the ground that they have been Our Registered Affiliates for two decades now and we cannot do otherwise.

Do note, that sequel to UK Lottery Acts 249(n) of 1972 ammended in July, 1996 to ensure the actual winning prize get to Winners, the Courier charges cannot be deducted from your winning claims because your winning claim is bonded by a hard cover insurance policy that gives only the winner access to the prize money.


Hence you will be responsible for all costs incurred in forwarding your winning package to you.The cost of delivery might be on the high side because of the necessary insurance which must be taken on your parcel before it can leave the UK for your designated address.

Please forward your Name and Ticket number to The Client Services Manager, CAMELOT COURIER SERVICE and he will get to you as soon as your winning package is ready for delivery.


Mr. Tony Howards
Client Services Manager.
Camelot Courier Service. Tel: + (44) 7045719514


Email: camelotdelivery@gmail.com

N.B


I advice that you always keep me posted on your dealings with Our Affiliate Courier Firm and Do not hesitate to contact this office via telephone or email if the need arises.

Congratulations once again,


Mr. Mike Powell
Claims Department
The UKNL Foundation
Tel: +(44)-701-113-0840

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till 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 !!!

© Copyright 1994-2007 The U.K. National Lottery Inc.


---------------------------------
What kind of emailer are you? Find out today - get a free analysis of your email personality. Take the quiz at the Yahoo! Mail Championship.

---------------------------------
Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your freeaccount today.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam