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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",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)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +447024075722 (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.
- edwardc_diplomat@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MicrosoftWindows And WorldBank <edwardc_diplomat@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:14:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PLEASE READ:END OF YEAR PROMOTION RESULT.
THE WORLD BANK...IBRD AND IDA:WORKING FOR A WORLD FREE OF
POVERTY.
Microsoft Windows
Ref: MWB/9420X2/07
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
We are pleased to notify you of the released by Microsoft Windows And The World Bank End of year International Promotions held on the day of 12th November, 2007. As a category B winner, You are therefore approved to claim a total sum of 1,000,000 Pounds Only (One Million pounds sterling) in cash credited to file MWB/9023118308/07.
However, your money has been deposited in a Security Company in London. The name of the Security Company is Skyway Security And Financial Company, London. Futhermore, the diplomatic personnel of the Security has just left London for your country to deliver your won prize to you in cash. He will arrive your country within 72 hours from the date of this notice.
You are hereby requested to immediately contact the diplomatic personnel who is already on his way to your country with the information below and claim your prize in cash.
Name of the Diplomatic Personnel: Mr. Edward Clark
E-Mail : edwardc_diplomat@yahoo.com
Congratulations.
Best Regards,
Dr.Harry Wilson,
Director of Promotion.
Phone : +44 702 407 5722, +44 702 405 7476.
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