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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "mcrosoftonlineukcoordnt2010@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!
- 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.
- +447024021753 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "ALEX HILGERT" <alex.hilgert@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:49:31 -0500 (EST)
Subject: MICROSOFT 2010 EMAIL LOTTERY JACKPOT AWARD PROMOTION OF UNITED
KINGDOM .
MICROSOFT 2010 EMAIL LOTTERY JACKPOT AWARD PROMOTION OF UNITED KINGDOM .
MICROSOFT 2010 EMAIL LOTTERY
JACKPOT AWARD PROMOTION OF
UNITED KINGDOM .
BATCH NO: 350/WN
Mr. Andrew Clark
Online Co-ordinator
Tel: +447024021753
Date: 20-01-2010,
Dear Lucky Winner,
Finally today, we announce winners of our monthly draw
MICROSOFT MEGA LOTTERY EMAIL JACKPOT 2010 taking place,
Here in London UK sponsored by Microsoft Corporation to Award all
Microsoft global users and your email address was emerged as one of
Our successful lucky winner.
You have been approved for lump sums pay out of 850,000.00
(EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING )
In cash Credited to file REF NO: MSWP/02UK-672GH/L
And your WINNING NO: 10-98-2835-00900
You have been advised to furnish/ re-confirm the following details
Below to enable the immediate processing of your fund payment
ASAP.
1. Full Name:----------------------------------------
2. Address:-----------------------------------------
3. Nationality:---------------------------------------
4. Age-------------: And Date of Birth:--------------
5. Occupation:---------------------------------------
6. A copy of your driers license:----------------------
7. Mobile Phone Number:-----------------------------
8. State of Origin : ------------------------------------
Best Regards,
Congratulation.
Mr. Andrew Clark
Online Co-ordinator
+447024021753
Secretary
Mrs.Julian Lee
Contact address: mcrosoftonlineukcoordnt2010@live.com
LOTTERY SPONSOR
Microsoft Corporation U.K.
2010
You are advice to keep your Reference Number and
your Batch Number out of
Public and also your Neighborhood.
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Anti-fraud resources:
