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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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.
- occ-espa@post.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Lydia Bowen//Libero Sarl Promotion" <claimeuromil@libero.it>
Reply-To: addmontecarlo@aol.com
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 14:42:53 -0000
Subject: Ref: 655897 / Urgent Notification.
CONGRATULATIONS!
This is to notify you that your name have been selected as the winner of
an Award Sum of 415.810,00 EUROS in LIBERO online Award Lottery random
ballot selection held on the 18/April/2014 in Rome, ITALY.
Your winning details are as follows: REF.No: GFC8110/3740K BATCH No.:
HOL04R591/XB301)WINING No:NJP8182-131Y, Ticket No:0031- 4365021 Lucky
Number SPL (501/0267).
In order to proceed with the processing of of your claim, you are required
to contact the claims agent with the details as
indicated above and also provide the requirements as for quick and better
confirmation:-
1. Full Name:
2. Direct phone number:
3. Date of Birth:
4. Current Address (P.o Box not acceptable)
5. Occupation:
By contacting:-
Urgent attention: Mr. Ken Lawson -Payment Consultant-
Email: occ-espa@post.com
The international Lottery is lawful sponsored by the Microsoft Corporation
and is registered and protected by the Benelux trademark law and Libero
Lottery & Games SAL. www.libero.it. Please note that the validity period
of these winning is Fourteen (14) days; hence you are expected to make
your claims immediately. Any claim not made before this date will be
transfer to the suspense vault of the European Gaming Board.
Once again we say big Congratulation.
Best regards,
Lydia Bowen
-Director of Operation-
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