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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")
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- +448712472737 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +4407024092802
- 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.
- fivewaysexpress@airpost.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Frank.Johnson Fiduciary Agent" <f_johnsonwalker@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 11:58:33 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear Garrick Auster (Contact the Courier Company)
Message Code:
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
To:Mr Garrick Auster
Dear Lucky Winner,
I bring greetings to you from the entire staff and workers of the lottery company here in UK. As your claim/fiduciary agent that has be appointed for this job to process and see to it that your winning prize/fund get to you safe, I have forwarded your case file pertaining to your lottery payment and WINNINGS in cash and your Claims Verification has been processed .
I kindly wish to inform you that a signed cheque of THREE MILLION BRITISH POUNDS STERLINGS has be issued bearing your name (Mr Garrick Auster) on it and will be send to you via the lottery company accredited courier company (FIVE WAYS EXPRESS COURIER) from here to (country) you.
You are expected to send your full names, address, amount won and winning numbers to the courier company (FIVE WAYS EXPRESS COURIER) via email.
You can contact them at: fivewaysexpress@airpost.net
Please adhere to further instructions you receive from them, make sure that all informations they need you provide for them without any delay, and always keep me updated as regards the status of the progress you make with them.
Congratulation Once Again.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Frank Johnson Walker
Payment Office:
Claim/Fiduciary Agent
British European Award Lottery
Tel: +44(0)702 409 2802
: +44(0)703 184 3885
: +44(0)703 184 4035
Fax: +44-871-247-2737
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Anti-fraud resources:
