joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: volkswagenlottery@yahoo.ca
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 11:40:09 +0200
Subject: OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION

THE LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
Volkswagen Automobiles,
22 Garden Close, Stamford Lincs, PE9 2YP,
London, United Kingdom
31/08/2007

OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION (FINAL REMINDER)

Please note( This message has originally being sent to you)If you recieve it again please reply directly to our legal department (meiringatlaw@yahoo.ca for your payment)

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of £850,000(eight Hundred And Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds) and a brand new Volkswagen Car; International programs held on the 1st of August 2007 in London, The United Kingdom.

Description Of Volkswagen Car to be Shipped to you.(Shipped to you Free):
BRAND: Fifth Edition
MODEL: 2006 Model
COLOUR: Metallic Blue
ENGINE TYPE: 1973cc 4-cylinder
POWER: 145bhp
TRANSMISSIONS: Adaptive Automatic Transmission
FUEL: 29.1mpg (combined

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection system(s) from a database of over 450,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.

The Volkswagen Car Promotional Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This lottery is the 3rd of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claims officer through our
accredited Prize Transfer agent as stated below:
========================
Mr. Meiring Lowe Esq.,
22 Garden Close, Stamford, Lincs, PE92YP,
London, United Kingdom
E-mail: meirngatlaw@yahoo.ca
Ph:++447031834204
fax:++448709748174
========================
contact him, please provide him with your secret pin code x7pwyz2007 and your reference number VM:12052007/21.You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as soon as possible:

Claims Requirements:
1.Name in Full:
2.Address:
3.Sex:
4.Nationality:
5.Marital Status:
6.Age:
7.Next Of Kin:
8.Occupation:
9.Phone/Fax:
10.Present Country:
11.Amount won:
12.Pin Number
=========================
If you do not contact your claims agent within 30 working days of this notification,your
winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the transfer/claim by Winner.

*Winners under the age of 18 are automatically disqualified.
*Staff of the Volkswagen Company are not to partake in this Car Promotional Lottery.

I congratulate you on your winning and encourage you to make Judicious use of your prize.

Accept my hearty congratulations once again!
With Best Regards,

Mrs. Mary Roberts.
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources: