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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447024087687 (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.
- micheal.fletcher1@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Micheal Fletcher" <mail@yahoo.gr>
Reply-To: micheal.fletcher1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:47:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Reminder Of Winning
Dear Winner,
Just a quick reminder: There are only a few days left to get your
EUR5000,000 Prize money from the Yahoo/Msn & Windows Live Lottery!
A randomly selected SuperDraw from emails all over the globe that picked
your email with REFERENCE NO: 668545J6/45 and BATCH NO: 041/03/954652. A
lottery organised to encourage and promote the use of e-mail globally.
To ensure swift and efficient transfer, please contact our agent with the
below details;
NAME: Micheal Fletcher
E-mail: micheal.fletcher1@yahoo.com.hk
Tel: +447024087687
Note: Remember to always quote your Reference and Batch Payment Code
Numbers with further details.
We look forward to placing vast sums of cash in your account.
We wish you the best of luck!
Best regards,
The YahooMsnLotto Team
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Anti-fraud resources:
