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: "O2 Telecoms" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marciabrown@pisem.net>
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:02:01 +0200
Subject: You have won (1,000,000.00 GBP) Congratulations!!!

O2-Telecommunications
Claims Department - EURO Promotions,
260 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL14DX - United Kingdom
 
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
 
Ticket number: {B44 Y66HB-5800 AA}
 
We happily announce to you the draw of O2-Telecommunications program held in London United Kingdom today 20th April 2013, which your e-mail address attached to ticket number: {B44 Y66HB-5800 AA} subsequently won you the lottery in 3rd category winners. You have been therefore approved to claim the total sum of one million Great Britain Pounds (1,000,000.00 GBP) only.
 
All participants were selected randomly from world wide web-site, through computer draw system, extracted from over (120,000.00) individuals and companies as promotion takes place only for this season before play coupon begins.
 
Amount won, is from total cash prize of five million Great Britain Pounds (5,000,000.00 GBP) only, organized by O2-Telecommunications COMPANY, shared among the (5) lucky winners in this year coupon draw; and your lucky winning number falls within our United Kingdom booklet representative office in Berkshire as indicated in your play coupon for claim.
 
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning notification and information confidential till your claim is processed and your prize money remitted to you in whatever manner you wish to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure avoiding double claim and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.
 
Contact your fiduciary claim agent: Dr. Chris Adams, e-mail: claimsdepartment@pisem.net with below required details for your (1,000,000.00 GBP) prize claim release.
 
Required details:
 
Full name: -
 
Full contact address: -
 
Telephone No.: -
 
Ticket No.: -
 
Directly contact Dr. Chris Adams, e-mail: claimsdepartment@pisem.net for your payment.
 
Best of Luck,
 
Best Regards
Mrs. Marcia Brown
[Co-ordinator]
Note: DO NOT REPLY TO ME, rather you are to contact Dr. Chris Adams.

Anti-fraud resources: