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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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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)
- "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)
- 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 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.
- pmcftlondonuk@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM EURO MILLION PROMOTIONS!" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nelsonkofimensah@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:13:38 +0100
Subject: EURO MILLION PROMOTIONS! WINNING NOTIFICATION...
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER
INTERNATIONAL GRANTS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF: EURO 6/315116127/22
BATCH: 15/623/EU.
EURO MILLION PROMOTIONS! WINNING NOTIFICATION...
Atten: Euro Winner,
The prestigious EURO MILLION! has set out and successfully organized a Sweepstakes marking the New Year. We rolled out over €1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION EURO) for our end of year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage.You have therefore won the entire winning sum of €1,000,000.00 *ONE MILLION EURO*.The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in 44
Moor fields London EC2Y 9AL UNITED KINGDOM. To file for your claim Please Contact your claims agent.
Mrs. Joan Campbel
E-mail: pmcftlondonuk@hotmail.co.uk
Website:http://www.bbc.co.uk/lottery
You are advised to contact the lottery your fiduciary agent with the following details
to avoid unnecessary delays and complications:
1. Full Name:
2. Full Address:
3. Marital Status:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
7. Nationality:
8. Country of Residence:
9. Telephone Number:
10.Fax Number:
11.Draw Number above:
12.Next of Kin:
How do you feel as a Winner?
CHOOSE MODE OF REMITTANCE BEFORE DELIVERY
(A) BANK WIRING TRANSFER (B) COURIER DELIVERY.
Thank you for being part of our commemorative end of Year Anniversary Draws.
Sincerely,
Mr. Nelson K. Mensah
B.B.C Department...
Euro Millions Promotion Award
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Anti-fraud resources:
