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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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 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.
- stefani.diego@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: infofree@mchsi.com
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:26:15 +0000
Subject: FREE AWARD DEPT.
Attn: LUCKY WINNER
WINNING NOTIFICATION FOR CATEGORY "A" CYBER LOTTO DRAWS:
However,no tickets were sold. After the automated computer ballot
collection,your e-mail address emerged as a winner (category"A") with the
following numbers attached(Ref Number: UK/9420X2/68, Batch Number:
074/05/ZY369 and Ticket Number: PA 3502 /8707-01.)
You are therefore to receive a cash prize of $2,500,000.00.(Two Million Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)from the total payout sum!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! your prize award has been insured with your e-mail address
and will be transferred to you immediately upon which you meet
verifications.To file in for the processing of your prize winnings,you are
advised to contact our certified claims agent (category "A") on the address
below:
CLAIMS AGENT:
UNITED KINGDOM.
Contact Officer:
MR. DIEGO STEFANI
Tel No: +44 704519472
EMAIL: stefani.diego@yahoo.com
Anti-fraud resources:
