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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:
- "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. )
- "certified bank draft" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- soul572009@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sen.Tracy Philips" <office-----web347@att.net>
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:15:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Contact My Secretary Now
My Dear Good Friend,
This is to thank you for your effort. I understand that your hands were tied.Not to worry.I have succeeded,the money has been transfered into the account provided by a newly found friend of mine in Now York .To compensate for your past assistance and commitments,i have dropped an International Certified Bank Draft of $1,200.000.00 for you.
I am in Australia with my family presently.I do intend to establish some business concerns here,and possibly buy some properties.Contact my Secretary Name: Miss. Olga Fedorovna Streltsova /Email: soul572009@yahoo.com in Russia forward my mail to her and then ask her to send the cheque to you.
Take good care of your self.
Best Regards,
Sen.Tracy Philips
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Anti-fraud resources:
