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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:
- 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:
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- postcode21@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Jensen Van Ray" <fjx@jfrs.jus.br>
Reply-To: postcode21@aol.com
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2015 11:27:32 -0200 (BRST)
Subject: Confirmation Email Ref No: (PUKD-63210886543232)
Confirmation Email Ref No: (PUKD-63210886543232)
Reply Email: postcode21@aol.com
Following official publication result of email sweepstakes program
released on the 27th of November, 2015. Organised by the PEOPLE POST
CODE EMAIL SWEEPSTATKS. Your electronic email address attached
to a Ticket Number (A-74100639-1) has won the prize Sum of 3,000,000.00
Euros Only (3M Euro Only). For further enquires and
claims of your winning
CONTACT: Mr.Jensen Van Ray
CITY/ COUNTRY: Bruxelles Belgium.
TEL: 0032-486-234-990 /+01132-486-234-990
Reply to Email: postcode21@aol.com
It is important to note you that your award information was released
today with the following particulars attached to it.
E-mail Ticket: PUKD-63210886543232
Reference NO: EKLU-06420175
Serial NO: 3184-83
Batch NO: 11/51944/UXCP
DRAW LUCKY No: 84-13-09-28-31-75*9
We expect you to provide us with the information below, for the processing of
your winning documents.
1). Full Names:
2). Residential Address:
3). Occupation:
4). Sex/age:
5). Phone/Fax Numbers:
6). Country of Resident:
7). Nationality:
8). Reference Number:
9). Serial Number:
10). Amount Won:
11). your winning Email Address
12). A Scan Copy of Any of Your Valid Identification Proof:
Your Full Name & Telephone Number
Please open your attachment file and fill it very carefully
Please note that all winning must be claimed not later than 30 working
days.
Sincerely,
Mrs Linda Maria,
CITY/ COUNTRY: Bruxelles Belgium.
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Anti-fraud resources:
