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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447035918200 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- nelsoncolee12@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "OVER DUE PAYMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nelsoncolee12@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:26:56 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY
Attention Sir/Madam,
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.
We are writhing to know if it's true that you are DEAD? Because we
received a notification from one MR. GERSHON SHAPIRO of USA stating that
you are DEAD and that you have giving him the right to claim your funds.
He stated you died on a CAR accident. He has been calling us regarding
this issue, but we cannot proceed with him until we confirm this by not
hearing from you after 7days. Be advised that we
have made all arrangements for you to receive and confirm your funds
without anymore stress, and without any further delays.
All we need to confirm now is your been DEAD Or still Alive. Because this
MAN'S message brought shock to our minds. And we just can't proceed with
him until we confirm if this is a reality OR not But if it happened we did
not hear from you after 7days, then we say: MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PERFECT
PEACE"
Full Name............
Direct Telephone Number..............
Physical Address.....................
Occupation...............
Country.................
State.............
Sex............
Age..............
YOUR JOY AND SUCCESS REMAINS OUR GOAL.
May the peace of the Lord be with you wherever you may be now.Reply to nelsoncolee12@yahoo.co.jp
Your Faitfully,
Dr Nelson Cole.
Director International Payment.
United Nationa.
+447035918200. Direct Mobile.
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