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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- +447045712696 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- uktntcourier-logistics01@hotmail.co.uk
Fraud email example:
From: Atkinson Walter <online_claimsagent131@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:41:25 +0800 (CST)
Subject: CONTACT COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR ORDER NUMBER: D562725
UK National Lottery
12 Bridge Street,
Stains Middlesex TW18 4TP,
United Kingdom.
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
Attention: Winner
Be confident in our remittance method as the TNT Courier Company Agency will effectively deliver your package with a comprehensive insurance cover that has been undertaken to guarantee the safe delivery of your winning cheque to your address in record time. The parcel will be delivered by the TNT Courier Company which is our courier affiliate. The courier charges are inclusive of a comprehensive insurance coverage and an administrative fee, which are mandatory to be paid by all winners. You are required to contact the officer in charge at the courier company Mr. Mark Brown.
Find his contact below:
TNT COURIER SERVICE
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE: Victoria House 144-146 Boddingtons Lane Corydon CR0 4TD United Kingdom
Name: MR. MARK BROWN. (Dispatch officer)
Email: uktntcourier-logistics01@hotmail.co.uk
Phone Number +44 704 571 2696
Direct Fax: 44 871 264 2487
Your Parcel containing your winning cheque and original copy of your certified lottery winning certificate has been dispatched to the courier company for onward delivery to your named address for immediate delivery of your parcel; you are to contact the courier company with the following information.
1. Full Names.
2. Address where you would want the parcel delivered to.
3. Phone and fax numbers.
4. Sex:
5. Your Order Number:
You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email address for their courier cost. When contacting them, you are to include this order number as your subject. Please you are advised to write down the order number and save it.
ORDER NUMBER: D562725
Best Regards,
Mr. Walter Atkinson
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