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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us dollars" (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)
- 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!
Fraud email example:
From: "iKobo Inc." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ikobo.grants12@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:23:28 +0100
Subject: IKB/NG/R2F01
OUR REF: IKB/NG/R2F01
YOUR REF:
iKobo is an international Money Transfer Company that specializes in money transfers, through a Visa Card in quick, easy and safe money transfers.
As part of our expansion and promotional package for the fiscal year 2009, We are pleased to inform you that the sum of $2.8 Million US dollars has been accredited in your favor as one of the lucky winners of the random internet email search that was conducted by the iKobo Incorporated which your email address emerged as one of the Lucky email address and have won you this Fiscal year promotion grant prize of $2.8 Million US Dollars.
This fund would be made available to you through an iKobo Visa card. We have concluded plans to deliver this card to you as soon as possible.
You can track the current status via the website: www.iship.com
TRACKING NUMBER
EC932373096US
Please you are to send us your delivery details which would be needed at the pickup location:
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS:
SEX:
AGE:
You are also to immediately pay the delivery charges of US$120 to ensure prompt delivery.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Copyright (C) 2001-2009 iKobo Inc.
https://www.ikobo.com
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Anti-fraud resources: