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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "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. )
- "bbcpro@blumail.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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 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.
- +447017039223 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "B.B.C Department" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bbcpro@blumail.org>
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:01:31 -0700
Subject: Your Draw Number:07:23:30:41:45:49 BONUS(07)
BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION (BBC)
NATIONAL LOTTERY DRAWS
64 Newman Street. City,
London.United Kingdom
Your Draw Number:07:23:30:41:45:49 BONUS(07)
Website:http://www.bbc.co.uk/lottery/
Our Dear Winner,
You have won the sum of (One Million Pounds sterling)from British Broadcasting Corporation National Lottery here in london on our charity bonanza from which your email Address came out as the winning coupon.
The winning ticket was selected from a Data Base of Internet Email Users,from which your Address came out as the winning coupon.
Depending on the number of winners overall and per prize category,prizes may on occasion be less than stated above.
See the Game Procedures for each game for details:
Contact: MR .PERRY GREEN
Phone No: +447017039223
Fax No:+44870 974 2091
Email address: bbcpro@blumail.org
Provide the following information needed to process your winning claim.
1.Name:
2.Address:
3.Marital Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age:
6.Sex:
7.Nationality :
8.Country Of Residence:
9.Telephone Number:
10.Fax Number:
11.Draw Number above:
Congratulations once again.
NOTE: YOUR WINNING FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFER INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT OR DELIVERY YOUR WINNING CHEQUE TO YOU WITH THE NEXT 24 HRS TIME.
please quote your winning number.
Regards,
MRS HILL SMART
B.B.C Department..
National Lottery Results
England.
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Anti-fraud resources:
