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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "national lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (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.
- +447011146554 (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.
- marvis_kaye@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: c.house.11@scu.edu.au
Reply-To: marvis_kaye@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:39:23 +0100
Subject: NATIONAL LOTTERY 2008 WINNING NOTIFICATION !!!
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION.
Customer Service /Foreign Claims Dept
Ref: LSUK/2031/8161/04
Batch: R3/A312-59..
UNITED KINGDOM.
Telephone: +447011146554
Dear Winner,
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash Price of
US$2.500.000.00 ( Two Million,Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars.) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03, from
International programme held on the 16th January , 2008 in the United
Kindom for our new year bonanza.
HSBC BANK LONDON, has been contracted to transfer your winning prize
into your account and an acount will be open on your name with the
HSBC BANK here in London immediately you have contacted them.
Happy new year, Congratulations once again from all the members of the
National Lottery Board.
You are to contact the Claims Department to validate your claims.
Claims Department Agent
MRS. MARVIS KAYE
Private E-mail : marvis_kaye@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone: +447011146554
Fill the appropriate Form for your claim:
FULL NAME...............................FULL
ADDRESS:..........................SEX:..............
AGE..........OCCUPATION.......................TEL.......................MOBILE................
COUNTRY................................
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Richard.K.Lloyds.
Uk National Lotto Co-ordinator
Anti-fraud resources:
