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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:
- 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:
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +447035977317 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447006062478 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: barr.arthurjamesesq.ukm@live.hk
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:26:05 -0800
Subject: You Have Won (Reference No:FL/668530092)
You Have Won (Reference No:FL/668530092)
Microsoft® Award Team/Claims Office
Your email has won you £700,000.00 To claim your prize, please contact
Barr.Arthur James Esq with your Batch #:409978E and Reference No:FL/668530092
with the information below.
1.Full Name:..............
2.Address:................
3.Occupation :..............`
4.Age:..............
5.Sex:.................
6.Nationality:...........
7.Tel:..............
via Email; barr.arthurjamesesq.ukm@live.hkk Tel; +44-703-597-7317 Fax:
+44-7006-062-478 Note: All replies and queries or questions concerning your
claims should be sent to Barr.Arthur James Esq.
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Anti-fraud resources:
