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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "VERIFY YOUR YAHOO ACCOUNT NOW" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <centersecurity708@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 21:55:52 +0800
Subject: VERIFY YOUR YAHOO ACCOUNT NOW
Account Alert
VERIFY YOUR YAHOO ACCOUNT NOW !!!
Dear Account User,
This message is from Microsoft message center to all Yahoo account owners and premium account owners. We are currently upgrading our data base and e-mail account center. We are deleting all unused Yahoo account to create more space for new accounts. This is the secord times you have been contacted and this account will be close if we did not hear from the account owner.
To prevent your Windows Live Account Services Deactivated. You will have to update us the information below before 72 hrs start from now!.You are advise to verify and comfim your acount details below to enable us upgrade your account.E.G Your Yahoo id, Password, Date Of Birth etc.
CONFIRM YOUR WINDOWS LIVE ACCOUNT SERVICES. VERIFY YOUR FREE HOTMAIL ACCOUNT NOW !!!
Yahoo- ! ID: .........................
Password:.......................
Your Birthday:.................
Your Country ...........
Enter the letter from the Security Image.........
Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his or her account before two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.
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Anti-fraud resources:
