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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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.
- +31626415837 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- ipwlottonl@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: <conase10@telnor.net>
Reply-To: ipwlottonl@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:59:44 +0200
Subject: Attn: Winner,
Attn: Winner,
National Postcode Lottery (Ticket Number: BC2008/02)
We wish to congratulate you over the National Postcode Lottery Promo success in our computer balloting held on 8th of June 2008.
This is a Millennium Scientific Computer Game in which email addresses were extracted with software and the addresses were scrutinized with a ballot system.
It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging Internet users, which you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. Your email address has been picked up in the second category and you have been approve for the star prize of US $2,000,000.00 (TWO Million United State Dollars Only).
To claim your winning prize you will need to contact our branch office in Netherlands as soon as possible for the immediate advise on how to claim your win :
Rotterdam Branch Officer Incharge
Mr. Densmore stewart
National Postcode Lottery NOTIFICATION DEPARTMENT
Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
TEL:+31-626-415-837
EMAIL:ipwlottonl@yahoo.com.hk
You must respond back with the following details as requested below:
1Full Names
2Contact Telephone Number
3.Occupation
4.Sex
5.COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT:
6.Country
7.Nationalty
Note : As a winner in this lottery programme,you will be obliged to attend an expensive-trip paid Lottery promotional Seminar Organized by National Postcode Lottery
Once again congratulations!!!
Best Regards,
KATHY VERO (Mrs.)
(Coordinator).
Anti-fraud resources:
