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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "overseas claims unit" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +447024087409 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "onlinenotification2008 Gazeta.pl" <onlinenotification2008@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:56:10 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Uk Online LotteryBrookmount House,
62-65 Chandos Place,
Covent Garden,
London, WC2N 4LP
(Customer Services)
Date: June 21st 2008
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Ref: UKL/04210X2/65
Batch: 0741/060/DK369

Dear Winner,

We officially announce to you the draw (#604) of the UK ONLINE LOTTERY,
online Sweepstakes International program held on the 16thf June 2008.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:56475600545 188 with
Serialnumber 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: , Bonus Ball [1] which
subsequently won you the lottery in the First category i.e match 5 plus
bonus.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of �500,000
(Five hundred thousand pounds sterlings) in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03. The internet emailing idea was used, since most people
are not able to purchase tickets and play outside the UK. We hope with part
of your prize awards, you will take part in our subsequent lottery jackpots.
This is from a total cash prize of �10,000,000 shared amongst the first
four(20)lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus. All
participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide
Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over
100,000unions,associations,and corporate bodies that are listed online. This
promotion takes place weekly.Please note that your lucky winning number
falls within our European booklet representative office in London as
indicated in your play coupon.
In view of this, your �500,000 (Five hundred thousand pounds
sterlings)would be released to you by any of our payment offices in
Europe. Our European agent will immediately commence theprocess to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For
security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.To file for your claim,
please contact our claims agent: Overseas Claims Unit Uk Online Lottery.
Mrs rita PalletEmail: rita_pallet@londonmail.comTEL: +44 702 408 7409 Our
European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish
contact via e-mail with the particulars presented above citing the batch
and reference numbers to this letter. Yours faithfully,
Mr James Sylvester Online
Co-ordinator Claims
processing formFULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY: CONTACT ADDRESS:
CITY/STATE:
COUNTRY: NATIONALITY: SEX: AGE: MARITAL STATUS:
TEL NO:
NEXT OF KIN: OCCUPATION:ANNUAL INCOME: AMOUNT WON:
REFERENCE NO:BATCH NO:
LUCKY NO:TICKET NO:
SERIAL NO: LOTTERY DATE: Sweepstakes International
Program.
Open 7 days 8am-8pm LAST WINNERS ON THE UK ONLINE LOTTERY
GAME.

CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE: This email message,
including any attachments, is intended only for the use of the intended
recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged, confidential
and prohibited from unauthorized disclosure under applicable law. If you are
not the intended recipient of this message, any dissemination, distribution
or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this
message in error, please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all
copies of the original message.
Copyright 1994-2008 The UK ONLINE
LOTTERY Inc.
77635 476378
255667460 Our winners are assured of the
utmost standards of confidentiality, and
press anonymity until the end of
proceedings, and beyond where they so
desire. Be further advised to maintain
the strictest level of
confidentiality until the end of
proceedings to circumvent problems
associated with fraudulent claims. This is
part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program.

Goodluck from me and members of staff of the
UK ONLINE LOTTERY.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam