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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "top of the day to you" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- +447031943520 (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.
- worldcourierservices1956@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MARTIN PITTS <martinpits_claimsdept@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 15:55:14 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY IMMEDIATELY !
MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM
Microsoft Corporation
#1 Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052.
Ticket Number: 8391281
Serial Number: 3422/06
Lucky Numbers: 4-7-10-32-35-49
Attn: Winner,
Top of the day to you.
I wish to inform you that as earlier informed, you are to contact the
WORLD COURIER SERVICE alongside your current contact details and winning information to enable proper delivery of your parcel for security reasons and future references.
You are advised to contact the courier firm via details below:
CONTACT PERSON: BILLY RICHARDSON(dispatch officer)
EMAIL: worldcourierservices1956@yahoo.co.uk
TEL: +447031943520
Fax: +448704781865
Note that you are to be responsible for the courier charges of whichever claims options you deem fit and suitable for you and also endeavour to contact us as soon as your parcel is been delivered to enable us document your claims processing from winning notification to final delivery.
Congratulations once more...
Regards,
Martin Pitts.
Claims Officer,
For MS WORD LOTTO UK
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