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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "LONATO & GOOGLE.TG" <lonatowinners@groupmail.com>
Reply-To: ericdupuy@representative.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 19:08:01 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON
Attn. Urgently,
LONATO (TOGOLESE NATIONAL LOTTORY) in collaboration with GOOGLE.TG wishes to
congratulate and inform you that you have won the sum of $350,210.00 USD, on
the third annual Google user promotion reward. From our online database system
your account address was selected from the website wherein your account address
emerged as one of the online winners.
This notification email should be your confidential property to avoid
impersonators claiming your winning fund and be notify that LONATO has already
arranged with the Management of our accredited bank (Togolese Bank for Trade
and Industry) to deliver your winning price via their ELECTRON ATM CARD
through the national Express Courier company.
You will be furnished with the information to claim your fund as soon as you
acknowledge receipt of this notification with an obvious proof of your sincere
identity.
When your identity is confirmed, you will received confirmation alert on your
mobile phone from the accredited bank with your winning account details and
information about how your ATM VISA ELECTRON CARD will be deliver to your door
post for you to access your winning fund in anywhere in the world.
Please reconfirm this required winner information such as:
Winner’s Full Name: ……………………………………………..
Winner’s Street Address: ........................................
Winner’s City/State: ...............................................
Winner’s Country: ...................................................
Winner’s Zip/Postal Code: ......................................
Winner’s Mobile number: ……………………………………….
Yours faithfully,
LONATO (TOGOLESE NATIONAL LOTTORY)
WINNING LOTTORY DEPARTMENT - LONATO & GOOGLE.TG
ERIC DUPUY (INTENATIONAL AWARD WINNING CO-ORDINATOR)
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Anti-fraud resources:
