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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- 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.
- mrgabbyedwin_claimagent@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. GABBY EDWIN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.gabbyedwin@superposta.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2012 05:17:23 -0500
Subject: ++++POWERBALL_ONLINE SPLASH_PROMOTION++++
Attn: Sir/Madam,
You have been selected as one (1) of (15) winners in this month Powerball Online Splash Promotion, selected from all regions by our internet processing unit. Our fifteen (15) winners have been selected from five continents currently connected to the Powerball network South Africa. Award Attached to (Ticket Number: 5647600545189) with (Ref Number: PWB/551256002/2012) and (Batch Numbers: PWBOSP/2012/SA). Your User name as the 5th beneficiary in this promo was chosen at random by our Digital Random Internet Processing Service Asia Pacific (D.R.I.P.S) and your reward is coming from the interests generated from advertising and copyrights from the Powerball network South Africa. Congratulations once again from Powerball; you are entitled to a surprise package worth the sum of $1, 500,000. (One Million, Five hundred thousand United States dollars only). Contact Our South Africa District Online Coordinator directly with the below information.
Name: MR. GABBY EDWIN.
E-mail: mrgabbyedwin_claimagent@superposta.com
Office Tel: +27-785-291-774.
Office Fax: +27-865-125-597.
YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS TO YOUR AGENT TO FACILITATE THE RELEASE OF YOUR WINNING FUND TO YOU.
1. FULL NAMES:
2. FULL ADDRESS:
3. TELEPHONE / FAX NUMBER:
4. YOUR BATCH NO:
5. YOUR REFERENCE NO:
6) YOUR TICKET NO:
6. MARITAL STATUS:
7. OCCUPATION:
8. DATE OF BIRTH:
9. GENDER:
10. PRIVATE EMAIL:
Congratulations!! Once Again.
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Anti-fraud resources:
