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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- ",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)
- "united state of america" (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!
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- compensationofficer14@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "WORLD INTERNET PROGRAMMES 2011®" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <compensationofficer14@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:46:58 -0700
Subject: Attention: Prominent Internet User
Attention: Prominent Internet User
TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition.
Due to your effort,using internet programs indoor and in your office,We want to compensate you and show our gratitude to you with the sum of $5,000,000.00USD Five Million United States Of America Dollars) for the year ended 2011 bonanza world internet draw in which we have authorized (Mr.Mark Johnson) to assist you in getting your compensation check across to you.
This is from a total cash prize of US $5 Million USD (Five Million United states dollars),given to the first TEN (10) people who will be compensated in this world internet programmes 2011Edition .
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 500,000 companies and individuals. I am using this opportunity to thank you for using the internet daily. The Name and contact Address of the agent (Dispatch Officer) is as follows:
CONTACT AGENT:Mr. Mark Johnson
Email: (compensationofficer14@gmail.com)
Finally remember that I have forwarded instruction to the Mr. Mark Johnson
on your behalf to send the cash prize of Five million United State Of America Dollars to you as soon as you contact him without delay.
Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of our heart.
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Controller :BARRISTER (Mrs.Ezomo Ken)
WORLD INTERNET PROGRAMMES 2011®
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Anti-fraud resources:
