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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "yahoo/msn lottery inc" (no such lottery exists)
- "yahoo/msn lottery" (no such lottery exists)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "greater london" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- 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.
- yourclaimunits@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Yahoo/MsnLottery" <inf@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: yourclaimunits@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:53:30 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: Goodday Winner !!!!
Yahoo/Msn Lottery
Incoperation Baley House,
Har Road Sutton,Greater
LondonSM14teUnitedKingdom
Ref: BTD/9680/08
Batch:409978E
Goodday Winner,
You have just been awarded the sum of £1,000,000GBP, which was won by your
E-MAIL Address in our Yahoo/Msn Lottery. Do get back to this office with
Your requirement such via
Email: yourclaimunits@hotmail.co.uk
You are to contact him with your details below;
1.Name......2.Address.......3.Nationality.......4.Age.......5.Occupation.........6.Phone/Fax.......
Congratulations once again.
Wilfred Lenz.
Coordinator
Pay-Out Officer.
This message has been scanned
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Anti-fraud resources:
