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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:
- 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:
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447014219511 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Frank Warren" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankwarrena@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 May 2013 02:35:12 +0100
Subject: Official Notification
William Thompson & Co.
London WC2A 3LH U.K.
Tel: +44 7014219511 ext 101
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF A DEPOSIT BOX IN YOUR NAME.
I work for Bishop Thompson & Co., a U.K. law firm that arranges asset management and
storage of special valuables for reputable clients.
We have information concerning of the availability of a deposit box with a Vaults Storage
Company which has been listed in your name. A benefactor made you the beneficiary of the
deposit box which contains US25,000,000.00 and instructed clearly that you should only be
notified of its availability after the expiration of the maturity date which has already
elapsed, that is why you are being notified.
More Information can only be provided concerning the deposit box when you get back to us.
Thank you and I remain
Frank Warren
Associate Solicitor
Bishop Thompson & Co.
London WC2A 3LH
United Kingdom
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Anti-fraud resources:
