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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.
- 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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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.
- 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.
- europeroyal@europe.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- holland. tel: 0031-685242542 fax: 0031-847508652 email: europeroyal@europe.com ref: er/07533 ticket number: 025613-ing. with the (Europe; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Europe Royal"<europeroyal@europeroyal.com>
Reply-To: <europeroyal@europe.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:42:33 +0200
Subject: Europe Royal Winning Notification!
*******************DO NOT DELETE THIS MESSAGE********************
Europe Royal
Stationplein 13
Rosendaal - Holland.
Tel: 0031-685242542
Fax: 0031-847508652
Email: europeroyal@europe.com
Ref: ER/07533
Ticket Number: 025613-ING.
With the introduction of new types of games, with the ushering in of online technology
and with the permit issued under EU laws to compete for concession to
run games and give away prizes on the internet.
Europe Royal wishes to congratulate you for being one of the lucky
winners in the Europe Royal Win Ballot.
Your email have been officially selected as a winner from Europe Royal.
You are hereby authorised for claim with your email attached to
winning ticket Number: 025613-ING in the 2nd category winning prize of
Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euro.
Contact Claims Officer:
************************************************************************************
Europe Royal.
Claims Notaris
Mr Laurens Nijenhuis
Tel: 0031-685242542
Fax: 0031-847508652
Reply Email: laurens.nijenhuis@europe.com
*****************************************************************************************
Contact your claims officer with required information below:
Full Names
Occupation:
Address:
Country:
Telephone:
Email:
Ticket Number: 025613-ING.
Choose a mode of payment:
(Bank Transfer 2/3days or Bank Cheque 5/7days)
*****************************************************************************************
Keep this email confidential & away from public notice to prevent double
claim or impersonation with your Reference Number until after remittance/payment to you.
Best Regards,
Wotide Mo Sope.
Europe Royal.
© 2011 Europe Royal. All rights reserved. Terms of use. Privacy Statement.
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