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:
  • "claim 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. 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 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.
  • info-claims@web.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY CORPORATION. <fidelity-security1@excite.com>
Reply-To: info-claims@web.de
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:57:18 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON !!!.


EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY CORPORATION



Pol.Lasao, Area Anardi 155, 28090 Madrid. Spain Branch.
Ref. N=BA: ESM/WIN/008/05/10/MA
Batch. N=BA: EULO/2907/444/908/06.

RE:AWARD LOTTERY NOTIFICATION

YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.


We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting =
sweepstake held on 22nd 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 (45407) with serial =
number 51622 drew the EUROMILLION lucky numbers 3-18-40-40-76 which =
consequently won the draw in the Second category. You have been approve for =
the star prize of EUR 950,000.00 (Nine Hundred And Fifty Thousand Euros. =
Only)


CONGRATULATIONS !!!
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 us as we =
have had cases like this before, please send your Full Name, Home and Office =
Tel & Fax Number, Mobile Tel Number and your winning ticket star number, =
reference/batch numbers and amount won information for processing of your =
winning fund to our registered claim agent in address below:
National trust Agency
Dr.Miguel Fernando
Address: Avda .Del Petroleo 222 Poligono
Madrid Spain.
Tel:0034 638 400 812
E-mail: info-claims@web.de

Be informed that the appointed agent will be required to swear affidavits of =
lotto claim also remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 25th =
October 2007. Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and =
complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch number in =
all correspondence with your claiminig agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as =
soon as possible.
Once again congratulations.
Best regard,
Mrs. Blanca Fernandez
Lottery coordinator.

This promotional program takes place every year. This year lottery was =
promoted
and sponsored by THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STAATSLOTERIJ COMPANY B.V AND SULTAN =
OF BRUNEI, we hope with part of your winning you will take part on our next =
year =802 million international lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam