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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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)
- 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.
- +447045705495 (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.
- ericwardxclaimsagent@yahoo.co.uk
Fraud email example:
From: peachypie60@mchsi.com (SURF LOTTERY PROMO)
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:27:40 +0000
Subject: You Won
Dear Internet User,
This Email is to inform you that you emerged a Category (A) winner with
the sum of £2,500,000.00 POUND STELING.on our online draws on the 8th
June,2008.Your email address is identified with Batch Number:
444821545-NL/2008 and Ticket Number: PP 3812 /2008-08 in Category "A" and your
claims
portfolio is filed with Ref Number:MARKT 80 ES 9414.
CLAIMS AGENT.
Name: Eric Ward
Tel: Tel:+447045705495
Email:ericwardxclaimsagent@yahoo.co.uk
You are advised to provide him with the following information:
First name:Last Name:Telephone/Fax number:Nationality:Age:Occupation:
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Mary Jones
Anti-fraud resources:
