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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- neiltrotterfoundation@cheerful.com (Cheerful; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- receive your cash grant, to our private email: neiltrotterfoundation@cheerful.com or info.neiltrotterfoundation@gmail.com please provide (Cheerful; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: NEIL TROTTER FOUNDATION <neiltrotterfoundation@cheerful.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: info.neiltrotterfoundation@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 May 2015 23:45:48 -0700
Subject: CHARITY DONATION FOR NGO'S
Attn: Lucky NGO beneficiary,
The Neil Trotter foundation is donating the sum of £1,000,000 pounds to you for charity/NGO purpose, from the £107.9 Million Pounds we won on 18 March 2014. To confirm
this kindly click on
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-26627075
Your email address was submitted to my wife and me from the best web directory and search engine by legal advisers to the donation offer. You received this message because we have listed you as one of our twenty lucky millionaires. If you receive this email on your office email address, you are advised to reply this message on your private email address for more details on how to receive your cash grant, to our private email: neiltrotterfoundation@cheerful.com OR info.neiltrotterfoundation@gmail.com
Please provide the following information
*Full Name:
*Telephone Number:
*Age:
*Country:
*Profession:
*Name of your NGO:
Your urgent response to our email below will be needed.
Regards
Foundation Manager
Sir. John Murray
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Anti-fraud resources:
