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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- 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 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.
- jameswilson2013@mynet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "(I.A.G.R) - UK - Sir Alex A Mark" <fairly@on-nets.com>
Reply-To: <jameswilson2013@mynet.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 14:54:16 +0100
Subject: Re: Important Message - Your Shipmemt Is Ready
International Association of Gaming Regulators UK
Good day to you,
This is to inform you that the Board of International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the UK National Lottery resolved in a security vote meeting of December 2012 to pay out your lottery winnings won years past - an outstanding entitlement of US$950,000 [Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars] only.
The board and committee members are aware that you never received your payment draft, and it has since been reverted into an ATM Card payment in your name.
This ATM card has been deposited with Walls Finance and Security House, Las Vegas. Nevada - USA, your ATM Card will be delivered to your address at your earliest convenience. You will have to contact the contracted security firm in custody of your ATM card.
We implore you to decline the acceptance of emails, fax or telephone calls that do not originate from the WALLS FINANCE & SECURITY HOUSE - USA
This firm has been contracted to deliver the ATM card to you. Do contact the supervisor/agent addressed below immediately you read this message for further information on how to receive your card.
Contact Information:
WALLS FINANCE & SECURITY HOUSE
Contact Name: James Wilson
E-mail Address: jameswilson2013@mynet.com
Note: They are waiting to receive your instruction so they can dispatch the ATM Card to the residence/office address you may designate. It is important you contact him and have all modality put in place to conclude this arrangement at the earliest time possible.
THIS IS NOT A LOTTERY PROGRAM.
Signed:
Sir Alex A. Mark
International Association of Gaming Regulators (I.A.G.R) - UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
