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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • kelvin_shore@yahoo.dk

Fraud email example:

From: selina greenwood <selinagreenwood0002@yahoo.dk>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:43:13 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: My Dear Friend,


My Dear Friend,

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed
at the course of the Uk Online Lotto winning cheque shipment to your
location, I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with
the sum of $100,000USD (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) I have authorized the finance house where I deposited the money to issue you international certified bank draft cashable at your bank.
My dear winner, I will like you to contact the CEO in charge of the
finance house for the collection of this international certified bank
draft. The name of the Person with your Cheque is: Mr. Kelvin Shore.
COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD OFFICE
CONTACT AGENT Mr. Mike Wilson EMAIL: kelvin_shore@yahoo.dk

At the moment, I am very busy in Sydney because of the investment
projects which myself and my new partner Mr. Peter Hills of CTL Express
Delivery Company are having at hand. Finally, remember that I have
forwarded instruction to Mr. Mike Wilson at the finance house on your
behalf to send the bank draft to you as soon as you contact him without delay.Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.

My sincere advice to you as a Christian is that you should endeavor to
pay your tithe to a bible believing church when you get the money
because I noticed it as a fiduciary agent that you were skeptical about
your winnings when you were been asked by the Uk lotto Agency Inc to file out a claim for your prize. And now the current policy of the Lotto organizers is that if an emerged winner fails to claim up his/her
winning cheque of $500,000 it's now mandatory that this fund can be remitted or forfeited to the fiduciary agent in charge of this winners file.

However, I want you to contact him immediately as soon as you receive
this information because he is leaving for the US by the end of this
month and this might cost a delay in your receiving this draft.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs.selina greenwood.

























---------------------------------

Audi, Fiat, Peugeot, Skoda, Porsche, Toyota, Ford - Kelkoo har brugte biler til en hver smag! Klik her for at sammenligne priser.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam