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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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. )
- 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447031945161 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447031943155 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +448712538718 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- tnt_deptcourier@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- tnt_deptcourier@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Lewis Jnr <uknlcliamsdepatment_lewis@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: ukfiduciary.agentlewis@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:11:02 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY
BRITISH NATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
28 TAN FIELD ROAD,
CROYDON, LONDON,
UNITED-KINGDOM.
20-08-2007
Customer Service
+447031945161
+447031949326
+447031941190
(24hours)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
ATTN: Leopoldo Bieber,
Good day to you. I want to inform you that your verification details have been received and have been processed. I must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our lucky winners in the UK National Lottery Online Sweepstakes International Program.
We have sent your cheque and other vital documents relating to your winnings to our affilaite courier company, TNT. Express Courier Service. It is important to note that services rendered by this courier company are to be paid for by you and not the Lottery Board. TNT. Express Courier Service does operate on Pay before delivery (P.B.D) service to winners of the UK National Lottery thus they shall not commence delivery until they are paid.
See below the contact information of the administrative officer. You are advised to act accordingly.
Mr.Richard Frost
Administrative Officer
Tel: +44 703 194 3155 Tel: +44 701 112 7402
Fax: +44 871 253 8718
Email: tnt_deptcourier@hotmail.co.uk
tnt_deptcourier@yahoo.co.uk
You can contact :TNT Express Delivery affiliate courier company for the UK National Lottery for assistance in claiming your winnings,they will help you with provision of some important documents to facilitate you getting your winnings before the next lottery draw. you are required to contact the courier officer via email with the information below.
NOTE: Services Render by TNT Express Delivery is to be paid for by you and not the lottery board, also you are to email the courier company with the following details on the link provided above.
Do keep us updated in regards to your progress with them
Sincerely yours, Mr. Lewis Jnr..
Claims Department
The UKNL Foundation
© Copyright 1994-2007 The U.K. National Lottery Inc
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