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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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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.
- bcclottouk@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS CHRISTINA JAMES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <relationsofficebcclotto@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:18:33 -0800
Subject: BBC ONLINE LOTTERY DRAW 202.155.230.35
BBC ONLINE LOTTERY DRAW
29 Colmore Row,
Birmingham , B3 2EW
United Kingdom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lottery
Dear Lucky Winner:
We are happy to inform you that Your e-mail has won for you $1.2million from BBC LOTTERY 2011 on this year 2011 Draws presented on BBC 2011 EMAIL CASH AWARD. No ticket was sold, the draw Number 64664094 brought out your e-mail address from a Data Base of Internet Email Users all over the world as it was draw from of official game site : http://www.bbc.co.uk/lottery .Your email emerged during the unsubscribe promotion and qualified you as a winner of $500,000.00 USD Cash award.
To claim your won amount email the below details to our Accredited Claim Agent in London, to guide you on how to get your cash prize and direct you to the paying bank where your won amount is deposited under NON DEDUCTIBLE DEPOSIT that is to say no body can remove any amount in your won amount till it gets to your custody.
Draw Number 64664094
Your Full Name:
Country:
Age:
Sex:
Marital Status:
Occupation:
Mobile Number:
Amount Won:
Email the Above information's to our Accredited Claim Agent Dr. Nick Goodman
Name:Dr Nick Goodman.
Email: bcclottouk@yahoo.co.uk
Warning: You are advised to keep your winners details confidential till you receive your won amount.
Congratulations!! once again.
Yours in service,
MRS CHRISTINA JAMES .
(Public Relations Officer) (Lottery Co-coordinator)
BBC LOTTERY AWARD.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lottery
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Anti-fraud resources:
