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:

• 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.
  • +447045723855 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: mark smith <claims_dsmith44@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:35:31 -0600
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVED CONTACT ACCOUNTS DEPT


Attn: Prize Winner, Your claims form has been received and reviewed by the Lottery Board. We have noted your option for funds receival through the telegraphic wire transfer to your bank account. It is expedient that you contact the accounts department for the immediate set up of the accounts funds with liason with a bank here in the UK that will effect the transfer of the funds directly to your account. You are by this notice required to contact the accounts department and your designated accounts officer for the period of the transfer. The accounts officer will be in charge of your funds until the transfer is completed. You are requested to please cooperate with him fully to achieve a successful transfer. Below is his contact information: ACCOUNTS OFFICERMr. Paul Harrison.Tel:+447045723855E-mail: account.deptfund@yahoo.co.ukBMW LAND Automobiles.For immediate transfer of your winnings to you by our paying bank you are to contact them with the following information within the next 24hours;1. Full name2. Telephone Number/Fax Number. As soon as you contact him he will do the neccessary account set up and do the transfer immediately.The `transfer takes a maximum of 48 hours after meeting the neccessary requirement for the transfer. Please we require an adequate update of your dealings with the accounts officer so that we can update our files. A swift response will be appreciated as well as a detailed report.ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS.RegardsMr. David Smith

_________________________________________________________________
Can you find the hidden words?  Take a break and play Seekadoo!
http://club.live.com/seekadoo.aspx?icid=seek_wlmailtextlink

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam