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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")
- 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.
- carlosrafar@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "FREELOTTO ONLINE ESPANA" <freelotto11@ymail.com>
Reply-To: freelotto02@ymail.com
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:26:06 +0600
Subject: ONLINE BENEFIT.
FREELOTTO CORPORATIONS:
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
MADRID - ESPANA.
Reference Numbers: FSP-2013-EMS
Batch Numbers: ES/091/20901
Winning Numbers: 1,4,0,1,6
FREELOTTO WINNING AWARD
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our free lotto online
promotional program held on 18th march 2013 In Madrid Spain. This is a scientific
computer game in which email addresses were used. It is promotional programs aimed
at encouraging internet email users therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.
Your email address has been approved to claim the sum of four hundred and sixty six
thousand two hundred and eighty euros. (466,280.00 Euros).
To claim your winning prize. You are to contact our promotions claim agent in Madrid
as soon as possible with your winning information’s and your telephone numbers for the
processing of your claim.
Mr. Carlos Rafael Rodriguez
Address: Calle Bravo Murillo 301.28020
Tel: +34 63 234 7904
Email: carlosrafar@yahoo.es
Congratulations!!
Sincerely,
Marie Antonio Roberto
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Anti-fraud resources:
