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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")
- 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.
- +447014244928 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "THE CHEVROLET BINGO PROMOTIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claimsunit977.smsl@live.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:46:34 +0530
Subject: THE CHEVROLET BINGO PROMOTIONS
THE CHEVROLET BINGO PROMOTIONS
Chevrolet UK Ltd.UK1-101-135,
Osborne RoadLuton,
Bedfordshire LU1 3YT
FILE NO:34
CONGRATULATIONS LUCKY WINNER!!!
You have been awarded the sum of GBP: 500, 000. 00 and a brand new Chevrolet CAPTIVA in our 2010 Chevrolet BINGO Promotions which was held on the 1st Jan by selecting through email ballot from about 10million email addresses all over the world.
This award was done to support charity, educational growth and infrastructural development in your neighborhood so ensure that you use it properly as supposed.
Contact your claims agent with the below information:
(Dr.) M. DANNY ADAMS
Claims Agent
Tel: +44-7014244928
FAX: +1 212 298 8440
E-mail: claimsunit977.smsl@live.com
Reply to your claims agent via his email and endeavor to call him also with the above mentioned numbers as you make sure you provide these details to him immediately.
1. Full Names:
2. Country:
3. Complete Address:
4. Zip code :
5. Cell phone Number:
6. Age and Marital Status:
7. Occupation and Experience :
formation your claims agent shall process the handing over of your car and your cash prize shall be delivered within 5 days to you in your country.
Yours Faithfully Ms. Caroline Bennett
Director General
Chevrolet Bingo Promotions
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Anti-fraud resources:
