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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- 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.
- +31616971499 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- claimsdepartment@zensearch.com
Fraud email example:
From: maurrine104@voila.fr
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2007 07:43:29 +0100 (CET)
Subject: REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L XMAS BONANZA!!!WINNER NO 4
REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L XMAS BONANZA!!!WINNER NO 4
Dear Winner NO4!
We happily announce to you the draw of the Microsoft in conjuction
with Royal Heritage Jackpot & Staatsloterij/BMW NL promotion Christmas Bonanza Programme held to promote
Internet users all over the globe for the 4th quarter 2007 in The UK,France &
Netherlands.
You Email address has won you US$1,000,000.00 and a Starprize BMW 550i 2006 Model.
No Ticket was sold.Winners were entered freely through Computer random balloting system.
Your Email is attahced to: REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/LBATCH: 4583JL/WINTicket no: 23-76-06-54-42-100,
You are winner No4 in the third quater of the year.
Contact:Mr. Callistus Brown.Claim Dept,
Email: claimsdepartment@aol.nl Email:claimsdepartment@zensearch.com
Tel:+31-616-971-499 Fax: +31-847-149- 577
You are advised to provide the following informations:
(1)Full name/Address & Nationality (2)Your Email id (3)Ticket No, Batch No,
Ref. No (4)Phone & Fax no if any.(9)Sex, Age & Occupation.
You are advise to claim your winnings not later than 15th December 2007.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Yours, Truly
Maurrine Diane
Anti-fraud resources:
