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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:
- ",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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- asiapacific9090@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Award Notification" <sumospad@cox.net>
Reply-To: <asiapacific9090@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:58:25 -0600
Subject: Our Esteemed Winner of 2009
MALAYSIAN NATIONAL LOTTERY.
3420 PERSIARAN SEPANG 63000
CYBERJAYA SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
MALAYSIA.
Ref: MY/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
Dear Winner,
You are a winner of the MALAYSIA National lottery online program that was
held on the 25th Jan 2009. You have been approved to claim a sum of $5
Million USD.
Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with
Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:21-32-41-42-43-46, and a bonus
number of(17) which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $5 Million USD
($5,000,000.00)in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World
Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000
unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.
Fill the Processing form below.
Your Full Names and Address:
Sex:...............................................
Age:
Occupation:........................................
Nationality:
Country:...........................................
You are to contact our AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY for delivery of your
winning, certificate and winning cheque of $5 Million USD
CONTACT COURIER WITH THE BELOW EMAIL LINK.
Asia Pacific International Couriers
Mr. Andy Jerry
TEL:+60126205108
EMAIL: asiapacific9090@sify.com
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.
Yours Truly,
Luqman Faris
Online Coordinator
Anti-fraud resources:
