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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 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.
- fifa2014worldcup@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Maria Simpson" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 01:53:56 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! KINDLY SIGN THE PAYMENT RELEASE FORM
Fifa World Cup Promotion ©2014.
200 Bath Road
Slough
Berkshire
United Kingdom
SL1 3XE
VAT Registration number:745267123
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! KINDLY SIGN THE PAYMENT RELEASE FORM
Your email address emerged along side 2 others as a 2nd category winner in this year's Annual Online Promotion Draw.
Your email has won 850,000.00 Pounds Ref No:FW/901. in Fifa World Cup Promotion 2014. Sponsored by Peter Stuyvesant
for International Soccer Fan 2014 World Cup. Open the attachment to enable you view your Certificate and
Choose your options and submit to our Online Sweepstakes Coordinator immediately Via email: fifa2014worldcup@consultant.com
The means which you would like to receive your winning prize, with these options: Through
1. Come to the Redemption center in United Kingdom ( )
2. On-line Bank Transfer ( )
3. Courier Delivery service ( )
Ccongratulations once again on your winnings!!!
Mrs.Maria Simpson
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Anti-fraud resources:
