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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:
- ",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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- dainebotha@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: COCA COLA SA PTY LTD <dellpcs@koolsert.com>
Reply-To: dainebotha@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:57:22 -0800
Subject: COCA COLA SA PTY LTD: WINNER!!!
COCA COLA SA PTY LTD
130 Commissioner St
Pretoria
1309
RSA
Congratulations!!!
We the entire members of COCA COLA SA PTY LTD hereby notify you as the lottery winner of $1,500,000.00 US.You are advice to contact the Executive Secretary immediately with the information below. Your Qualification number is ZA-400-6770, PE-389/200
Name:
Address:
Country:
Age:
Sex:
Telephone No:
Cellphone No:
Email Address:
Executive Secretary: Mr. Daine Botha
Email:dainebotha@gmail.com
All informations will only be used for the purpose to which it is been requested. Please note that this lottery is conducted by the COCA COLA SA PTY LTD and strictly administered by Economic community for West African States (ECOWAS),European Union (EU) and United Nations Organization (UNO).
Sincerely,
Mrs.Sakhele Ngcobo
Lottery Officer
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Anti-fraud resources:
