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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:
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- bbcintlotoaward@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: INFO BBC LOTTO <schola01@att.net>
Reply-To: bbcintlotoaward@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:05:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lottery/
Saturday October 02th draw no. 1534
Winning numbers: 16 19 26 27 41 47 BONUS 34
Dear Winner,
Your e-mail has won you $USD2, 000 000.00 United State Dollars (Two Million United State Dollars) from BBC LOTTERY on our 2010 charity bonanza. The draw no. 1534 brought out your e-mail address from a Data Base of Internet Email Users and qualified you a benefited winner of the stated winning amount.
You are to contact us via e-mail (bbcintlotoaward@gmail.com)
providing the below stated information for process of claim.
1. Full Names…
2. Address...
3. Country/State...
4. Mobile No...
5. Sex...
6. Age...
7. Occupation...
Claims Manager
MR.GEORGE Clinton
Tel: +447835396813
E-mail: bbcintlotoaward@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
