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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- 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.
- robertrivera1@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Thomas Hegland" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertrivera01@rocketmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 07:50:07 -0400
Subject: Contact Mr. Robert Rivera.
Attention
Your e-mail address was selected from amongst millions of e-mail addresses on web during the 2010/2011 world internet promotion. And you are being
compensated as one of the prominent users of the internet with the sum One Two Million Five Hundred Thousand united state dollars. I have been instructed to
assist you get you winnings that has been deposited in our company by the mcoordinator of the lottery.
You are required to reconfirm your full name, address where the certified bank Check will be sent. Your telephone number is also needed for easy
communication. As soon as the information is received i will send you the cashier check through Fed Ex courier service and the tracking number will be
sent to you to enable you track it down before it arrival in your country.
Meanwhile be informed that cost of shipment and the insurance coverage of certified cashier check are at your expenses. Get back to your agent in charge
of your funds to enable him to inquire about the cost of the Insurance and the courier charge of your check to be delivered at your doorstep and keep you
informed.
The name of the person which you are to contact is Mr. Robert Rivera and you are advise to send this below information to him through is e-mail:
Email robertrivera1@rocketmail.com
Tell: +234-709-227-5802
Fill this form and send it to him to dispatch your check at once.
(1) Your full name
(2) Your address
(3) Your telephone number
(4) Present country
(5) Occupation
Send the above information immediately.
Awaiting your urgent response.
Sincerely,
Thomas Hegland
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Anti-fraud resources:
