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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:
- "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- 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.
- francisjohnson61@yahoo.com
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: francis.johnson6043@jmail.co.za
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:59:59 -0800 (PST)
Subject: VERY URGENT LETTER
I have a new email address!You can now email me at: francisjohnson61@yahoo.com
MR. FRANCIS JOHNSON
TELE:234-7031622282
FINALL NOTIFICATION
GOOD DAY,
- I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR WINNING LOTTORY/INHERITANCE PAYMENT OF $10.5 HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR PAYMENT AND WILL BE RELEASE TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER,KINDLY REPLY WITH YOUR NAME INFULL,TELE/FAX,CONTACT ADDRESS, AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU I WILL SEND YOU THE FUND APPROVAL CERTIFICATE TOGETHER WITH THE BANK INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF YOUR FUND,FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU ARE TO CALL IMMEDIATELY, HERE IS MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:234-7031622282, FEEL FREE WHILE CALLING AND YOU ARE ASK TO CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION,BEST REGARDS,MR. FRANCIS JOHNSON
Anti-fraud resources: