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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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.
- +2348029429795 (Nigeria, 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.
- shellremittance_dept0008@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: shellremittance_dept0008@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:06:31 GMT
Subject: SHELL WINNER 2008
Shell International Promo,
Un-Claimed Department,
Customer Service Centre.
Cash Credit File Number: XYL/26510460037/06.
Award Final Notification.
We are pleased to inform you today 1st November 2008 result of the
winners.The SHELL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL ONLINE PROMO PROGRAMME,
held on the 15th August 2008. You have therefore been approved and
sellected to claim a lump sum pay out of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United
State Dollars),in cash credited to file-XYL/26510460037/06.
To file for your claim, please contact our claims agent;Shell Claims
Department.Contact Name: Mr.Johnson Cole
Email: shellremittance_dept0008@yahoo.com.hk
Tell Number: +234-8029429795.You would be required to send down the
following informations:*NAME IN FULL:
*ADDRESS:
*COUNTRY :
*AGE:
*SEX:
*TEL No:
*MOBILE No :
*MARITAL STATUS:
*OCCUPATION:
*NEXT OF KIN:
*CASH CREDIT FILE NO :.
Congratulations once more from all Members and staffs of this program
S.P.D.C (SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY HQS).Yours Truly,
Mrs. Precious Greening
Online Co-Ordinator
Anti-fraud resources:
