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 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • onlineagntcochran@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "INFO CENTRE" <info-centre990@btconnect.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:29:26 +0100
Subject: E-MAIL AWARD RESULT Ref No: UK/9420X2/6

U.K NATIONAL LOTTERY
HEAD QUARTER
45 ELMDENE RD,
WOOLICH SE 18 6TZ.
LONDON,UNITED
KINGDOM.
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
 
E-MAIL AWARD RESULT NOTIFICATION
 
We are pleased to inform you of the release, of the recent results of the draw (07#1224) of the U.K LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM held on Thursday 17th of October 2007.Your email address was attached to ticket number 56475600545 18,withSerial number 5368/02,drew the lucky numbers 4-18-22-27-44-48-33 [ And 33 as the Bonus Number )which consequently won you the second price in the lottery sweepstake.
 
You have therefore been approved for a payment of £48,318.00 (Fourty Eight Thousand Three Hundred And Eighteen Great British Pounds Sterling).Please contact the underlisted claims agent with the following vital information below for immediate processing of your winning:
 
Reference Number..... Batch Number......
First Name:....... Last Name:............
Gender:....... Date Of Birth:.............
Marital Status:........ Ticket Number:.........
Occupation:.......... Full Contact Address :..............
Phone No ( Moblie/ Land line )....... Amount won..........
Choose Mode of prize collection
cheque .......  telegraphic transfer.........
(Your Passport Photograph/ ID is also needed )
 
MR :ROBERT .P. COCHRAN
Email:onlineagntcochran@yahoo.co.uk
PHONE :- +44 - 7045 - 7041 - 27
                +44 - 7045 - 7064 - 87
 
He is your agent, and he is responsible in helping you in the processing of your winnings.
---------------------------------------
The U.k Lottery internet drew is twice a week and is organized to encourage the use of internet worldwide. We are proud to say that over 150million Pounds are won annually in more than 118 countries Worldwide.
 
Sincerely,
Mr.CHRISTOPHER BRADFORD
ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR
 
                                                           UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
                                            COPYRIGHT © 2007 ALL RIGHT RESERVED

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam