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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:
- "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.
- +447092869036 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447045773155 (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.
- tntcourierservice144@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: CLAIMS OFFICE <claimsdept_uk00@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <tntcourierservice144@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 04:19:31 -0400
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?CONTACT_THE_TNT_COURIER_DELIVERY_COMPANY=FE=FEyb6?=
Dear winner,
I am glad to inform you that in receipt of your mail and the provided required details, your winning certificate and winnings will be ready for Disbursement in exactly 24 Hours. In this regard, be informed that Your winnings is not in liquid form but in Bank Cheque, this Advice complies with the Anti-Fraud section 2,sub section (iv) of the procedural Manual of the funds disbursement agreement existing between lottery board and the United Kingdom Government. Note that, you have to employ the services of our affiliate courier company to send the cheque to you. Based on this fact, I wish to inform you that you are to immediately contact TNT Courier Services with the following details below for your winning claim:
TNT Courier CompanyTEL:(+44)-704-577-3155TEL:(+44)-704-571-4764FAX:+447 092 869 036EMAIL:tntcourierservice144@hotmail.com
Open 7days-24hrs-365days It is necessary that you formally notify him that you want the courier firm to deliver your cheque winnings along with the winnings certificate and what it will cost you. Furthermore, be informed that it is necessary you update us on developments with regards to the courier firm NOTE; ENSURE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS TO DELIVER YOUR WINNINGS TO Congratulations once more. Yours faithfully, Sincerely,On line CoordinatorFree Lotto Sweepstakes
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Anti-fraud resources:
