|
|
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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- claim1332@financier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: NATIONAL LOTTERY INC UK <claim1332@financier.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 10:40:42 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: CONGRATULATION
REF NUMBER: 967053915
Batch number: 6854396709/452FB
The winning number: FB7703/LPRC
                                                           Â
Dear Winner,
National Lottery Program wishes to notify you that you have been chosen through a Computer Ballot System as one of the recipients for 2014 Online Sweepstake Promotion Draw. You are among the jackpot lucky winners for the sum of â¬2,000,000.00 (Two Million Euros) Prize promotion Award which is organized bY National Uk Lottery Inc.
This result is now made available to you.
We advice that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. For the release of your winnings, kindly contact your claims agent with the following details to expedite the processing of your prize winning.Â
1. Surname:
2. Other Names:
3. Address of Residence:
4. Country:
5. Nationality:
6. Tel/Mobile and fax number:
7. Occupation:
8. Age:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
9. Sex:
You are advice to contact our Claim Department immediately for the claim, and send
Note in order to avoid unnecessary delays; remember to quote your Reference and ticket numbers in all correspondence.Â
Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our special quarterly promotional award program.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.George Struble
claim1332@financier.com
( National UK Lottery INC Promotion Agent)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning: For security reasons your winning information is not to be disclosed until your money prize is successful handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may arise from double claim. You may also receive similar message from people portraying to be other Organizations. This is solely to collect your personal information from you and lay claim over your winning. In event that you receive any thing similar to the notification letter that was sent to you kindly delete it and give no further correspondence to such organization or body. Person under 18 years of age is not allowed to claim prize. National Uk Lottery INC right © 2014.
|
Anti-fraud resources: