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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:
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- +447045712490 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +448712473703 (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.
- delivfastcourier@yahoo.co.uk
Fraud email example:
From: MR WILSON COLLINS <wilsoncollinss@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 08:24:51 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTN: Mr Rico Brandgen (CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY) 09/07/2007
HONDA COMPANY PROMOTION (HEADQUATERS)
Customer Service Department
An Affiliate of Honda UK.
#28 TANFIELD ROAD, CROYDON,
LONDON, ENGLAND.
TICKET NUMBER: 2752246896
SERIAL NUMBER: 652-662
BATCH NUMBER : AT-040SB06-03
ATTN: Mr Rico Brandgen,
CONGRATULATIONS! This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the HONDA COMPANY PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.
We are happy to inform you that we have forwarded your original certificate and your certified bank cheque along with a honda blue car to the courier company in charge of the delivery of your winnings to your custody.
Find below the details of the courier company:
DELIVFAST COURIER SERVICE LTD
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE: Elite Worldwide
Hartland Close, Slough Berkshire
SL1/3XT LONDON, ENGLAND.
NAME: MR GAR FELDMAN (dispatch officer)
FAX: +448712473703
TEL: +447045712490
TEL: +447045712487
EMAIL: delivfastcourier@yahoo.co.uk
You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email address for their courier cost. When contacting them, you are to include this order number as the subject. Please you are advised to write down the order number and save it.
ORDER NUMBER: KJ252368
Note: You are to quote your complete names, Ref/Batch Numbers and your direct phone number so that they can honor your letter.
Once again we say congratulations and always inform us with your dealings with the courier company.
Waiting to hear from you.
Regards,
Mr. Wilson Collins (claim officer)
HONDA COMPANY PROMOTION UK.
TEL: +447011136124
Open 7days-24hrs-365days a year
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