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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.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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.
- +447031981654 (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.
- michealpierceeurom@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "LOTTERY INFO" <winners@euromillions.com>
Reply-To: michealpierceeurom@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:11:55 -0600
Subject: Unclaimed Cash Prize
Ref: BWL/1002/096/WIN
Batch: 077/07/RE46
This message is as approved by the management of the Euromillions as regards lottery
prize with reference number as above. Euromillions has approved a cash prize of
£525,000.00 (Five hundred and twenty five thousand Pounds Sterling) each to 5 lucky
winners which you are one of.You have earlier been contacted about this.
This is a final notice to you, that the prize sum is about to be filed as unclaimed and
made available for a new winner, as it has remained unclaimed for the validity period
of 60days.
You are to contact your claims agent, If you are still interested in claiming providing
him with below stated information, for payment to be prepared.
Claims agent: Micheal Pierce
email: michealpierceeurom@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: +447031981654
INFORMATION TO SEND:
1. FULL NAMES:
2. AGE:
3. SEX:
4. MARITAL STATUS:
5. CONTACT ADDRESS:
6. TELEPHONE NUMBER(S):
7. OCCUPATION:
8.NATIONALITY:
Payment will be processed immediately you establish contact with him.
Sincerely,
Meltem Kutay Izgoren
General Manager
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Anti-fraud resources:
