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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million united states 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!
- 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.
- megajackpot_usa@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Richard_QUENIEUX/MAIRIE/FR%DOMPDC <Richard_QUENIEUX/MAIRIE/FR%DOMPDC@ville-lespontsdece.fr>
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2014 07:35:01 +0200
Subject: Mega Million Promotions
World Lottery Establishment
Mega Million Promotions
Reference: 45733457
Batch: KTU 3467934
Winning no: KB2014
Congratulations Lucky Winner,
Your Email Address With this Identification Number Online Balloting System Has Won the Lottery Conducted On the 1st Day Of September 2014, We here to Present to you the Sum of $5 Million United States Dollars Has Been Awarded to you.
Your e-mail address Attached to Ticket Number: Serial Number 4523-14 Drew 345-234-764-73-14 with the Lucky numbers 66 17 23 34 27 44 and Bonus Ball Number 22 Which you subsequently Won the Lottery in the 2nd category.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact your Claims agent: Mr. Richard_Quenieux ( megajackpot_usa@yahoo.com )
This is Part of Our Precautionary measure to Avoid Double Claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
Full name:
marital status:
Identification Driver's Licence, Passport, Or any other Form Of Valid Identity.
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Mailing address:
Age:
Occupation:
KTU Number:
Draw Number:
Please quote your Reference, BATCH and winning Number Which CAN be found on the Top left corner of this Notification.
MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY PROGRAM
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Anti-fraud resources:
