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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.
- 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:
- "overseas claims unit" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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.
- +447031942003 (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.
- omniexpresscouriers@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Well Paulson <ukwinningsclaimsagent101@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 19:48:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Contact The Courier Company For Winnings.
The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
ATTENTION: Mr Willmarr Pfeffmann,
CONGRATULATIONS! This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY International program. I am happy to inform you that I have forwarded your Original Certificate and your certified bank cheque to the courier company. Find below the details of the courier company.
OMNI FREIGHT EXPRESS COURIER
ADDRESS: Building 219 Epsom Square Hounslow,
Middlesex TW6 2DG.
Mr. Alex Butt (dispatch officer)
Management
OMNI FREIGHT EXPRESS COURIER
Email: omniexpresscouriers@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-703-194-2003
Fax: +44-709-288-9285
You are advised to send the Courier Company a mail to their email address for their Courier Cost of delivering your winning prize to the payment centre. 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: SH231282
Note: you are to Quote your complete Names, Ref/Batch Numbers, your direct phone number and Home address so that they can honor your letter also do keep me updated with your communications with the Courier Company.
Once again I say congratulations and always inform me with your dealings with the courier company.
Regards,
Mr. Well Paulson
Overseas Claims Unit
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