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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: MICROSOFT COPORATION <drrobson_vick_2012@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: MICROSOFT COPORATION <lotterclaims_dept@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2015 16:55:10 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Congratulations Esteemed Winner.....
2015 Promotion Award Notification
Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
Wrights Lane
kings Town Porto-Nouvo
Benin Republic
FILE REF: HL/5564/01/15/MICS
BATCH: MC11/834/5PDH /EU
Congratulations Esteemed Winner.....
It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you over your success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products (F.P.S.) held this Year 2015 in porto-nouvo Benin republic.
Where in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of £950.000.00 pounds (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand pounds sterling) for verification please include:
[1] Your Contact Address
[2] Your Telephone
[3]Your Nationality
[4] Your Full Names
[5] Occupation
[6] Amount Won
[7]Country
[8]Age
[9]Sex
THE FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT (Benin).
DR ROBSON VICK
Telephone: +229 9921-7397
The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by our Yahoo and a consortium of software promotion companies.
A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS! from the Staffs & Members of the interative Lottery Board Commission.
Sincerely
MR. MICHAEL SEEDWELLM.S.PRO.
ZONAL COORDINATOR.
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Anti-fraud resources:
