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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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. 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.
- +447024033306 (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.
- skynetxpressdelivery@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Irish Lottery Board <irishcontactclaimsofficer@yahoo.ie>
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:45:12 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Make your contact for the delivery of your winnings
IRISH LOTTERY BOARD
11 G Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF NO: MELI-T/17-F045526263532
IRISH LOTTERY RESULTS
for 10th June 2007
Visit website: www.irishlotto.net
Dear Mady Neu,
You are the accredicted winner of the Irish Lotery Games. Note that the LOTTO PLUS 1 RESULTS: 12, 21, 23, 33, 39, 44, Bonus 35 and LOTTO PLUS 2 RESULTS:03, 05, 10, 16, 18, 41, Bonus 02 has been place on our lottery site making you one of the benificially of One Million Three Hundred Thousand Pounds only.
Note that you have to send to the courier company your full home address that you want the winnings to be delivered to you. The One Million Three Hundred Thousand Pounds cheque has been signed with your name and the entire documents that shows that you are a winning has been sent to the Skynet Express Courier Company to enable swift delivery.
Make contact with the courier company with these information below:
Mr. Paul Reid
Customer Services,
SKYNET WORLDWIDE COURIER DELIVERY
Aldermary House, Queen Street, London, EC4N 1TX ,United Kingdom
Phone Number:+447024033306 or +447024033443
Email:skynetxpressdelivery@consultant.com
Do this swiftly and inform our office on the receipt of your winnings.
Once again congratulations.
Best Regards,
Mr. Balk Makali.
(Lottery Claims Processing Staff)
Irish Lottery Board
Copyright © 1994-2006 Irish Lottery Games.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guideline
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Anti-fraud resources: