|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "certified bank draft" (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. )
- 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.
- legalunit@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: British Lotto Company Inc <legalunit@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:59:04 +0000
Subject: Your Lotto Won Prize is Now Released
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.
ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION
AWARD PRESENTATION CENTER: UNITED KINGDOM
DATE: 05/07/2011.
Ref: 575061725
Batch: 8056490902/2010
Winning no: KB8701/LPRC
RE/AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE 1,000,000Million Pounds Sterling
With reference to your won prize of 1M Pounds Sterling earlier communicated to you, we wish apologize to our various Winners who as found it difficult to Claim their prizes through our Claim Agents.
Therefore, our organization has withdrawn their licenses and had therefore undertaken to issue an international draft to all outstanding unclaimed won Prizes of which your name and email are included.
Kindly as matter of urgency come to our Office and Pick your International Certified Bank Draft or ATM Casheable anywhere in the world or contact our legal unit to enable them arrange by courier to mail it to you if you are unable to come. Our legal unit is headed by Mrs Williams E. with email :legalunit@hotmail.com
We wish to assure you that no fees is required of you to Claim your Prize except where you are not able to come to our office then you may be required to pay delivery cost only and NO OTHER CHARGES IS REQUIRED.We had expected your mail for long and are about to return the prize at the end of this.
Kindly indicate urgently by which of this means you prefer to receive your money.
1. By a Universal ATM CARD (Casheable anywhere in the world)
2. Bank Draft
3. Bank transfer
4. Online banking
5. Diplomatic means
Your urgent response is being awaited.
MR Manuel James
Payment Director
British Lotto Company UK
|
Anti-fraud resources: