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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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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.
- +447040114042 (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.
- adamssmith_uklotto@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "uklottery1@theprojectorpros.com" <uklottery1@theprojectorpros.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 23:25:49 -0600
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!
THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY SERVICE
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
P O Box 1010 Liverpool, L70
1NL UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer's Service Center)
Ref Number: UK/910/16454
Batch Number: VC/32/ID1141
Attention,
We are happy to announce to you that you have been selected among the 10 (Ten)
winners with the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, who where online during the selection
won the sum of £2.8 Million (Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand pounds
Sterling). Winners Number:8 15 30 31 34 43 40 :
You are advised to file in your Claim with your Fiduciary agent immediately
with the below information
NAME: Adams Smith
E-MAIL: adamssmith_uklotto@indiatimes.com
Telephone: +447040114042
Do remember to quote your Reference and Batch Number when contacting your
Fiduciary Agent.
Note: Any one under the ages of 18 years is automatically been disqualified.
Congratulations!!!!
Mrs. Maggi Clark
Coordinator
Anti-fraud resources:
