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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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. )
- 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.
- samsung.eu@europe.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "SAMSUNG EUROPE" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:16:35 +0100
Subject: SAMSUNG NOTIFICATION.
**************THIS IS NOT A SPAM**************
Samsung Europe
Internet Prize and Email Messaging Center
P.O Box 732
Rotterdam-The Netherlands
Telefax: 0031-844-393-028
www.samsung.com/europe
WINNING NOTIFICATION: Coupon Number: Q-119/SRV
The sum of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euros plus 1 Samsung Ativ Book9 lite
and 1 Samsung Galaxy NoteIII have been awarded to you from
Samsung database of telephone and internet email users from which your
email address was attached to the winning Coupon Number: Q-119/SRV.
Congratulations!
Contact the notarization officer with your winning coupon number.
Required information for your notarization/transfer below:
CONTACT:
Claims Agent / Notarization Officer.
Smit De Keizer(Mr.)
Contact Email: samsung.eu@europe.com
Complete required personal informaton details and choose mode of payment below:
Full Names:
Age:
Occupation:
Address:
Nationality:
Country of Residence:
Tel number:
Email:
Mode of Payment: (Bank Transfer,Bank Cheque or Personal Claim)
Warning:Any leakage of your winning notification resulting to a double
claim will automatically forfeit your winning prize thus
we advise you to keep your winning notification message confidential and
away from public notice to prevent double claims
or impersonation until after remittance/payment to you.
Yours Faithfully,
Victoria Van Eggo.(P.R.O)
Samsung Europe
© 2014 Samsung Europe. All rights reserved. Terms of use. Privacy Statement
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