419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

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:

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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "skynet@omail.hu" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "skynet@omail.hu" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "skynet@omail.hu" (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:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: "General Information" <info.euromillion@lottery.org>
Reply-To: skynet@omail.hu
Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:04:45 -0400
Subject: **SPAM** =?utf-8?Q?YOU_HAVE_WON_=E2=82=AC1=2E5MILLION_/_VOC=C3=8A_T_EM_GANH?=
=?utf-8?Q?OU_=E2=82=AC1=2E5_MILH=C3=95ES/_USTE_D_HA_GANADO=20?=
=?utf-8?Q?=E2=82=AC1=2E5MILLONES?=

EUROMILLIONS RESULTS
Emerge Draw DETAILS:(1) Ref No.KTU/9023118308/03/EMM
(2) Batch No: JBSH/10/JB/EMM
(3) Lucky No: 14-30-32-35-49
(4) Serial No: SHPTL/5368/306

Dear Lucky Winner,
(Euro Mega Lottery Game 2011)

Your E-mail Address have just won the sum of â‚¬1.5 Million Euro in the Online Euro Million Mega Lottery Game.
Contact our Dispatch Officer Immediately for documemtation and delivery of your winning cheque/certificate of
â‚¬1.5 Million Euro. WARNING !!! avoid delay...
CLAIM OFFICER: Mr. Evans Lee
E-MAIL: skynet@omail.hu
CONTACT LINE: + (60) - 129-115-890 (24HOURS).

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Yours Truly,
Asia On-line Coordinator.
Euro Millions Lottery

PORTUGUÃŠS
RESULTADOS EUROMILHÃ•ES
Emerge Desenhar Detalhes:
(1) Ref. No.KTU/9023118308/03/EMM
(2) lotes No: JBSH/10/JB/EMM
(3) No Lucky: 14-30-32-35-49
(4) NÃºmero de orden: SHPTL/5368/306

Caro Lucky Winner,
(Euro Mega Jogo De Loteria 2011)
Seu endereÃ§o de e-mail ganhou apenas a soma de â‚¬ 1,5 milhÃµes de euros na loteria on-line Euro MilhÃµes Mega.
Em contato com nosso Diretor de ser enviado imediatamente para documentaÃ§Ãµes e entrega do seu certificado de vencedor/check de
â‚¬ 1,5 milhÃµes de euros. ATENÃ‡ÃƒO!!! evitar atraso
DIRETOR DE RECLAMAÃ‡ÃƒO: Mr. Evans Lee
E-MAIL: skynet@omail.hu
CONTATO LINHA: + (60) - 129-115-890 (24HORAS).

ParabÃ©ns mais uma vez, de todos os membros e equipes do programa.

Yours Truly,
Ãsia Coordenador On-line.
Euro Millions Lottery

ESPAÃ‘OL
RESULTADOS EUROMILLONES
Emerge Dibujar Los Detalles:
(1) Ref. No.KTU/9023118308/03/EMM
(2) lotes No: JBSH/10/JB/EMM
(3) No Lucky: 14-30-32-35-49
(4) NÃºmero de orden: SHPTL/5368/306

Estimado Afortunado Ganador,
(Euro Mega Juego De La LoterÃa De 2011)
Su direcciÃ³n de correo electrÃ³nico que acaba de ganar la suma de â‚¬ 1,5 millones de euros en la lÃnea Euro Millones juego de la loterÃa Mega.
PÃ³ngase en contacto con nuestro Oficial de enviar inmediatamente a documemtation y la entrega de su cheque ganador/certificado de
â‚¬ 1,5 millones de euros. ADVERTENCIA!!! evitar el retraso ...
OFICIAL DE RECLAMO: El SeÃ±or Lee Evans
E-MAIL: skynet@omail.hu
LÃNEA DE CONTACTO: + (60) - 129-115-890 (24 HORAS)

Enhorabuena una vez mÃ¡s de todos los miembros y el personal de este programa.

Atentamente,
Asia on-line Coordinador.
Euro Millones LoterÃa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam