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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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!
Fraud email example:
From: "UK-THAILAND LOTTERY ORGANIZATION." <mr.thomashou@yahoo.es>
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 12:32:49 -0400
Subject: UK-THAILAND LOTTERY ORGANIZATION(15/08/2013)
UK-THAILAND LOTTERY ORGANIZATION
TICKET FREE/ONLINE E-MAIL ADDRESS WINNINGS DEPARTMENT.
UK-THAILAND LOTTO ONLINE WINNINGS NOTIFICATION OF US$4.6M.
If you are the correct owner of this email address,Be glad
this day as the result of the UK-Thailand Lottery Online E-mail Winnings
draws and sweepstakes held in Bangkok-Thailand on the 5th August 2013
has just been released and we are glad to announce to you that your e-mail
address has won you the lottery in the first category and you are
entitled to claim the sum of US$4.6M.
Your email address was entered for the online draw on Lucky
numbers WMS-21200-QWAZ, You are to contact Mr.Thomas Hou on the
below email address for quick delivery of your won cheque of US$4.6M.
All winners cheque are certified cashiers and are cashable in any
country of any part of the world.
Contact Agent: Mr. Thomas Hou.
Yours Truly,
Co-ordinator.
UK-THAILAND LOTTERY ORGANIZATION.
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Anti-fraud resources:
