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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "foreign service manager" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +27838946787 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- williamsalberton@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: lotto board <l_boarda94@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:12:41 +0200
Subject: YOU WON US$2,950.000.00.ON EMAIL
Congratulation,Your email is among the two lucky winning that won US$2,950.000.00 {Two million Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars}Each in the just concluded draw held to promote South African 2010 World Cup,As it was played in Canada,sponsored by CocaCola British American tobacco companies South Africa.
Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$2,950,000.00 is now with Stallion Finance and Security Company insured with your email address which won you this prize, therefore you should contact (STALLION SA) your agent and give them your full names so that they will re-insure your CHEQUE under your full names.
For prize claiming,
MR.WILLIAMS ALBERTON. FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER, STALLION SECURITY & FINANCE COMPANY (P.T.Y) LTD. 50 SIVEWRIGHT AVENUE DOORNFONTEIN, JHB PO BOX 16638
TEL: +27-83-894-6787EMAIL: williamsalberton@hotmail.com
Your winning numbers No: 8, 9 ,31, 42, 45, 49. with bonus No: 19 Ticket No:(7Y206) Ballot No: (BT/A) Winning numbers for Wed Oct 24 2007 draw, Visit:http://www.canada.com/findit/lotteries/results.aspx?id=6
Confirm under Lotto 6/49. Send them bellow details about you.
NAME:.....................ADDRESS:............... NATIONALITY:......... SEX:........................AGE:........................PHONE/MOBILE:......FAX:........................ OCCUPATION:......... COMPANY:.............. Your Email Attached to Ticket No: (7Y206 )
and ballot No: BT/A) Yours FaithfullyManagement
PLEASE YOU ARE ADVICE TO CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT ON HIS DETAILS BELOW:
MR. WILLIAMS ALBERTON
TEL:+27-83-894 6787
E-MAIL:williamsalberton@hotmail.com
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