joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Microsoft Promotion" <info@microsoft.co.uk>
Reply-To: phllwill@live.com
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:51:36 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Promo Winner




Microsoft Promotion
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW 10, UK

Ref: WBT/007/09
Batch: 809665G

Dear WINNER!!

Microsoft has successfully organised a Sweepstakes marking this year
anniversary, Your email address was attached to a ticket number(s)
22-16-65-22-70-31(09)which subsequently won you 650,000.00 GBP (Six
Hundred And Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) as one of the Ten jackpot
winners in the draw.

Contact with the claims agent with your winning details: Ref No, Batch No,
Ticket No, Full Name, Address, Occupation, Country, Tel, Age.

AGENT:
************************************************
Mr. Phill Williams
Fiduciary Agent
Microsoft Promotion
Email: phllwill@live.com
*************************************************

Best of Luck and Congratulations to you.

Sincerely,

Mogens Rasmussen
Microsoft Promotion
© 2011 Microsoft.


Anti-fraud resources: