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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:
- "yahoo lottery inc" (no such lottery exists)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "greater london" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "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 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.
- +447045720496 (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.
- rev.johnmichael@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Yahoo Lottery Awards Inc." <rev.johnmichael@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:11:07 -1200
Subject: YAHOOMAILIVE AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
YAHOO LOTTERY INCOPERATION
BALEY HOUSE, HART ROAD,
SUTTON, GREATER LONDON SM1 4TE
UNITED KINGDOM
Dear Winner,
We happily announce to you the draw (2008) of the Yahoo
International Lottery program held on the Month of August,
2008. Your e-mail address has won!! the draw, Which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 1st category i.e.
match 6 plus bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
$900,000.00 (Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars) in cash credit
file ref: ILP/MW 47509/02 from the total cash prize shared
amongst eight lucky winners in this category organized by
YAHOO LOTTERY INC, HOTMAIL & WINDOWS LIVE for the Month of
August 2008 bonanza. This is from a total cash prize of
$6,000,000.00 (Six million Dollars) shared amongst the Six
(6) lucky winners in this category i.e. match 6 plus bonus.
You are required to fill this form, and contact (Rev.John
Michael) with the e-mail/details below to enable us process
and file your claims.
(1).Full Name:.....
(2).Address:.......
(3).Nationality:...
(4).Date of Birth:.
(5).Occupation:....
(6).Phone:.........
(7).Mobile:........
(8).Fax:...........
(9).Sex:...........
(10).Age...........
(11).Marital Status....
(12).E-mail ..........
(13).Amount Won .......
Name: Rev. John Michael
Email:rev.johnmichael@hotmail.com
Tel: +447045720496, +447045721865
Remember to quote your reference information in all
correspondence.
Cordially,
Sarah May.
Anti-fraud resources:
