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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.
- 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 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.
- upgradeonline2012@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Upgrade Team" <upgrade@qq.com>
Reply-To: upgradeonline2012@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 06:08:07 -0000
Subject: WARNING! REPLY TO UPGRADE YOUR W E B M A I L ACCOUNT
We are currently upgrading our Message Centre database. We are deleting
all unused web mail to create more space for new ones. In other for your
account not to be suspended or deleted, you will have to update your WEB
MAIL by providing the information listed below:
Confirm Your E M A I L Account Details.
Email Address:
Username:
P a s s w o r d:
Confirm P a s s w o r d:
Please send your details to: upgradeonline2012@hotmail.com
web mail HelpDesk.
Web mail owner(s) who refuses to update his or her account within seven
days of receiving this notice ends up being suspended permanently
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Anti-fraud resources:
