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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:
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- 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.
- +447045713826 (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.
- mrgreenwalter@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Rayna <Rayna@htcplus.net>
Reply-To: mrgreenwalter@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 17:36:39 -0400
Subject: RE: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION
FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
RE: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION
I am obliged to inform you of your won FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL, Lottery prize sum of ONE MILLION UNITED KINGDOM POUND STERLING (£ 1,000,000.00) British Pounds Sterling, a prize payout of your winning has been approved by the FREELOTTO GROUP. In accordance with the United Kingdom lottery organisation.
File for your claims, by contacting the OFFICE Prize Remittance Division
NAME : MR GREEN WALTER
EMAIL: mrgreenwalter@hotmail.com
PHONE: +447045713826
Best Regard
MR GREEN WALTER
Prize Remittance Officer.
Anti-fraud resources:
