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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- +447031836223 (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.
- mrstephen_micheal@hotmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: Stephen Micheal <claimsagent56@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:31:22 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONGRATULATION'''
U.K NATIONAL LOTTERY
The Marina Offices,
St Peters Yacht Basin,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX England
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
DEAR LUCKY WINNER
FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION
This Email is to inform you that you emerged a winner of
(2,500,000.00 Pounds sterlings)on our online draws.For further
details on how to claims your Winnings,contact our
(claims office) with the following contact Address.
AGENT NAME: mr. stephen micheal
Phone: +44 703 183 6223
EMAIL mrstephen_micheal@hotmail.com
FULL NAMES____DATE OF BIRTH____MARITAL STATUS____CONTACT
ADDRESS____COUNTRY____TELEPHONE NUMBER____OCCUPATION.
You are to provide the promotion manager with the under listed
information
Mr. Dr zhand
Co-ordinator(Online Program).
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