|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "microsoft lottery" (no such lottery exists)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claims director" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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 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.
- mslap018@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Microsoft Lottery Award Games" <vannessa@downeast.whsites.net>
Reply-To: mslap018@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 15:52:25 -0600
Subject: Your E-mail Has Won You £800,000!!!
MICROSOFT/WINDOWS LIVE EMAIL PROMOTION
FROM: THE DESK OF THE CLAIMS DIRECTOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS / PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: MSWl/30983/2009
BATCH: 8254297137
Registered Lottery No 220949
Dear Winner,
Congratulatios Your e-mail address was selected and confirmed by our
Microsoft Lottery Award Games, You are therefore been approved by
Microsoft Lottery Award Games United Kingdom the sum of £800,000 In cash
Claims Requirement Details required are as follows: -
1. First and Last Names* 2. Contact Address
3. Telephone Numbers* 4. Occupation
5. Age* 6. Sex* 7. Country of Residence
8. Any form of legal identification (Driver's License or International
Passport)Forward all Requirement Details to claims administrator via
email: mslap018@yahoo.com.hk
Microsoft Lottery Award Games Co-ordinator
Mr. Albert David
@Microsoft Lottery Award Games (R) 2010 Mega Jackpot.
|
Anti-fraud resources: