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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:
- "million british 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)
- ",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)
- 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.
- raffle2013@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "The National Lottery" <rafflee2013@live.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:42:53 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Congratulations ! ! ! You Have Won One Million Pounds
The National Lottery
PO Box 251
Watford
WD18 9BR
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded National
lottery draw. National lottery was conducted on-line by an automated
random computer ballot search from the Internet. No tickets were sold.
After automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached Millionaire
Raffle MKY294628 appear as a winner of Millionaire Raffle Prize of One
Millions Pounds.
Thus, you have been approved for a lump prize off of 1,000,000 (One
Million British Pounds) in cash credited to File number- NL2013-2090V.
Your funds are now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover
insurance.
To begin your claim, please contact our London help line with the
information below.
The National Lottery
PO Box 251
Watford
WD18 9BR
E-mail:raffle2013@hotmail.co.uk
You will be assisted with the remittance of your prize funds to your
designated bank account.
Congratulations once again from all members and staff of The National
Lottery and thanks for been part of our program.
Questions? contact the above email address.
Thanks,
Si Thomas
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Anti-fraud resources: