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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:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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 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.
- ukawardteam66@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Heiden_Les <Heiden_Les@asdk12.org>
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:49:57 -0900
Subject: congratulations your email has won you 691,252 Pounds Sterlings
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are happy to announce to you result of draw #(679) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY END OF THE YEAR E-MAIL AWARD PROMOTION PROGRAM 2008 CONGRATULATIONS !!!.
online Sweepstakes International program held on 11th of December 2008.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:56475600545 188 withSerial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:(06)(08)(10)(13)(22) (32)BONUS BALL(03)You have been approved to claim the sum of Six hundred and ninety one thousand,two hundred and fifty two pounds sterlings(691,252Pound Sterling).To file for your claim,please contact our claims
agentbelow.**************************************************
Name:Mr James Kelvin.
Email: ukawardteam66@yahoo.com.hk<mailto:ukawardteam66@yahoo.com.hk>
Foreign Services Manager,
Payment and Release order
Department,
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE NATIONAL LOTTERY.
sincerely Mrs Heiden Les
Email the claim agent Mr James Kelvin
email:Email:ukawardteam66@yahoo.com.hk
Anti-fraud resources: