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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advice 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!
Fraud email example:
From: Reverend Ben Jackson <rev_benjackson1940@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 16:18:01 +0000
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?Dear_Winne?= =?windows-1256?Q?r_From_Cla?=
=?windows-1256?Q?ims_Depart?= =?windows-1256?Q?ment.{_Rev?=
=?windows-1256?Q?._Ben_Jack?= =?windows-1256?B?c29uIH3+/v7+/g==?=
HEINEKEN BOTTLING COMPANY
ANTHONIE VAN DIJCKERWEG
11078 AMSTERDAM
NETHERLANDS
Website: http://www.heineken.nl
Claims Department.
>From the Desk of
Rev (Fr.) Ben Jackson
Heineken Bottling
Company Award.
Dear Winner,
My office is responding to the receipt of your mail confirmation of
the requested personal and winning information.
Your information has been forwarded to your paying bank for computing
into our central data system record / reference.
You are advice to write an application letter to your paying bank
{Skye Bank Plc } via this e-mail address { info@skyebank-nigeria.tk} with your winning information
and personal data.
You are to follow the bank guide lines to enable them effect your
transfer without complication.
The Heineken Bottling Company promotional award board congratulates
you for the successful selection of this none applicable free
selection draw.
Official advice. You are advised to conceal with utmost discretion of
all information as regards to your winning to avoid double claiming
which will terminate your right to claim your won prize.
At your service.
Congratulations once again.
Warn regards.
Rev (Fr.) Ben Jackson
Your Agent.
© 2011 Copyright Heineken Netherlands N.V. All Rights Reserved
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