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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:
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +447024057234 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "WINNINGWAYS CONSULTANT" <info.winway1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: winningwaysconsultantltd@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 00:00:20 +0100
Subject: CONFIRM FARE TRAVEL MANAGER..URGENT
DEAR MANAGER,
GREETING FROM WINNINGWAYS CONSULTANT LIMITED...
WE HAVE THIS SECTORS AND WE WOULD WANT YOU TO CONFIRM IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT
AND SEND US THE FARE...
BELOW:
DESTINATION: NEW YORK
ROUTE: LAGOS-NEW YORK-LAGOS
AIRLINE: AIR FRANCE AIRLINE.
CLASS: ECONOMY.
--------------------------------------------
DESTINATION: DUBAI.
ROUTE: LOS-DUBAI-LOS
AIRLINE: ETIAD AIRLINE.
CLASS: ECONOMY.
--------------------------------------------
DESTINATION: ZAMBIA
ROUTE: LONDON-ZAMBIA-LONDON
AIRLINE: ETHIOPIA AIRLINE.
CLASS: ECONOMY.
KINDLY CONFIRM THE FARE AND SEND US NOW AS TO ENABLE US PROVIDE YOU WITH
THE NAMES, DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL DATE OF THE PASSENGERS AS TO ENABLE YOU
PROCEED AND SEND US THE BOOKINGS AND FARE...
ALSO SEND US YOUR SKYPE AND AS WELL LET US KNOW YOUR PERCENT CHARGE ON
CREDIT CARDS..
I AWAIT TO READ FROM YOU ASAP..
THANKS AND GOD BLESS.
BEST REGARDS,
MRS. ANGELA YOUNG
Winning Ways Consultant Ltd.
Tel: +447024057234
Fax: +448704791642
Address: Deane Road Bolton BL3 5AB United Kingdom .
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Anti-fraud resources:
