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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "euromillones" <euromillones1@yahoo.es> (may be fake)
Reply-To: infogsc@aim.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:24:30 +0100
Subject: URGENT.


EURO MILLONES INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
San Francisco 12=2C Castilla=F1a=2E
E-28019 Madrid-Spain=2E
Tel=2FFax=3A+34655 640 319=2E
E-mail=3Aeuromillones1=40yahoo=2Ees


AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION=2E

THINK GOOD=2C THINK EURO MILLONES INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY=2E

Our Ref=3A EM=2F0101=2F035=2E
Your Ref=3A EM=2F03CTG=2F0101=2F035=2E
Your Batch=3AEM=2F03CG=2F0101=2F041=2E
RE=3A EURO MILLONES EMAIL PROMOTION LOTTERY RESULTS=2E
EURO MILLONES INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANISATION BOARD=2E

We congratulate you for being among of the =2815=29 final ticket elected lucky Euromilliones Spanish international sweepstake Lottery Winners for Email Lottery which took place 11th of January=2C 2008=2E Released result today 18th of January=2C 2008=2E In Madrid Spain=2E

The result of our computer Draw 25=2C000 emails of this day selected your email address through our database on the lucky winning number 05 - 13 - 17 - 40 -43 - 25 -40=2E Which consequently won the lottery prize awards in the 1st category=2E As a result=2C you have been approved a lottery jackpot lump sum grand prize awards winning of =80795=2C925 =28Seven hundred and Ninety-five thousand=2C Nine hundred and twenty-five euros=29 which is insured in your name as the legitimate owner of this email address being the true and lawful beneficiary of this Prize Awards winning=2E This prize award winning is from the total amount of =8011=2C938=2C875 =28Eleven million=2C Nine hundred and Thirty-Eight thousand=2C eight hundred and seventy-five euros=29 shared among the 15 lucky winners in different category 1=2C 2 & 3 as part of our Promotional programme to encourage all countries in Europe=2C North America=2C South America and Central America=2C Africa=2C Asia=2C Middle East=2C Oceania=2C Antarctica participants in subsequent email lottery=2E This is your opportunity that your fate has brought to you and we are well pleased to have you in our database=2EYou have the options of being paid by=3A Cash=2C Certified Bank Draft or
Swift Telegraphic Transfer as you desire=2E
IMPORTANT NOTICE OF CLAIM=3A NO PRIZES WILL BE RE-ISSUED AFTER THE SPECIFIED DATE OF CLAIM 28TH MARCH=2C 2008=2E OTHERWISE WINNING PRIZE WILL BE ADDED TO NEXT YEAR 2009 BIG PROMOTION =8015 MILLIONS EUROS FRESH EMAIL DRAW=2E

We have always strived to keep the games easy to play and win=2C keep the games fresh and interesting=2C respond to emails from players=2Fadvertisers and lucky winners as quickly as possible and pay our winners as fast as possible after all statutory obligations have been duly completed on the part of winners=2E
We feel=2C we have accomplished this and this is probably one of the main reasons that we have been able to stay in business and rated the best Euromilliones Spanish international sweepstake Lottery organisation among others=2E

CLAIM PROCEDURES=3A Lucky winners must be able to identify themselves in association with the selected lucky email address to claim their prizes as allocated and also it is our standard practices to allocate accredited claim agents for the processing of claim application on behalf of lucky winners and payment of prize awards to the benefit of lucky winners after all modalities have been completed satisfactorily=2E
To begin your claims therefore=2C you are advised on final notice and as a matter of urgency=2C to contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for lucky Winners for the processing of your prize award winning file and payment of your prize to your designated bank account=2E
Contact the under-listed our lienced agent company by phone for your application form sent to you for processing of your payment=2E Also send your full name`s and telephone=2C fax and email address to ease up your claim=2E

Contact Person=3A Mr=2ELucas Mcdowell=2E
Global Security Company S=2EA
Madrid Spain=2E
Tel=3A+34653381731=2E
E-mail=3Ainfogsc=40aim=2Ecom

Be advised to officially introduce yourself to your claim agent as allocated with a copy of this award notification letter and present your full contact information=2C Your Telephone and Fax Number with your email received our Euromilliones Spanish international sweepstake Lottery and valid means of personal identification as true beneficiary=2Flucky winner of this lottery jackpot grand prize to enhance your payment processes=2E In conclusion therefore=2C you are to take cognizance of the limited time frame for claim processing and payment of your grand prize award winning hence=2C this is promotional programme prize awards for a stipulated period of time and therefore=2C be advise on final notice to begin your claim immediately as all prizes award winnings must be claimed and disbursed within the stipulated period tagged =22End of Claim=22 date as elapse of this date will authorized funds withholding for redirection to Account as abandoned=2Funclaimed without notice=2E
On this note once again=2C we congratulate you for this lucky grand prize award and wish you the best of luck everyday in all your life endeavours=2E


Yours faithfully=2C
Mrs=2ELisa Garcia =28Director=29=2E
International Promotion Services=2E

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam