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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:
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- tomlinagency@aim.com (AOL Instant Messenger; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- agader de ray, linct - mostoles madrid - spain. email: tomlinagency@aim.com phone: +34-672-556-285 fax: +34-917-692-841 (Aim; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Jerry Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tomlineagency@aim.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:14:00 +0100
Subject: TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE COMPANY
TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE COMPANY
22 AGADER DE RAY,
LINCT - MOSTOLES
MADRID - SPAIN.
EMAIL: Tomlinagency@aim.com
PHONE: +34-672-556-285
FAX: +34-917-692-841
www.toyota.com/camry
Attention: Congratulation!!!!!!!!! Congratulation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is to inform you that your Email ID has won you a brand new Toyota Camry 2010 and cash prize of (€700,000 00 Euros) in the on going Toyota Automobile Company Poverty Alleviation 2011 Award SPAIN. This award was held for the purpose of reducing Ruler/Urban Poverty alleviation and Debt Settlement in Asia region. The car comes with a special Toyota Insurance Cover for one whole year that is till the next promotion in 2012. It also came with a one year warranty and free repairs at any TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES depot or service station worldwide, you are advise to fill and provide us with the information below:-
1. Full Name:................................................
2.Full Address:..............................................
3.Age:..........................................................
4.Occupation:...............................................
7.Country:.....................................................
8. Winning Email:...........................................
9.Tel.Number:................................................
10. Scan copy of your Identification (Driving License or any valid I.D Proof)
And Send to {Tomlineagency@aim.com }, immediately we receive the above details we shall be informing you on how to claim your prize in your country within 24 hours, Congratulation Once more and trust in Toyota Automobile for top quality automobiles.
(Contact Events Manager)
Name: Rev. Jerry Mark
(Event Manager)
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Anti-fraud resources:
