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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million 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)
- "walcottsimon@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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!
Fraud email example:
From: "Shell Petroleum Company" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <walcottsimon@live.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 21:14:43 +0800
Subject: 2010 Shell Petroleum Award. (You are a winner!!)
Award Department,
Shell Petroleum Development Company,
United Kingdom
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Dear Shell Award Winner,
Following the results of our annual Award/Grant draws concluded this month, we are pleased to inform you, that your e-mail address emerged as a lucky winner in the 2010 Shell Award and you have been approved of a lump sum of $3 Million United States Dollars.
You have been assigned to a claims agent and hereby advised to contact him for immediate acquaintance with guidelines for the claim and subsequent payment of your prize award.
Kindly find his contact details below.
Name of Agent: Reverend Simon Walcott
E-mail: walcottsimon@live.com
Keep your winning information confidential to avoid double claim.
Accept our sincere congratulations.
Regards,
Mrs. Cynthia Cole
(Prize Administrator)
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Anti-fraud resources:
