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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:
- "www.microsoftwinni@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +447035900545 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Microsoft_Corporation_Sweepstakes_Promotion=A92016=22?= <info@email.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: www.microsoftwinni@qq.com
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2016 11:46:31 +0100
Subject: Greetings
AWARD PROMO/£750.000 GBP BENEFICIARIES.
REF/PAYMENTS CODE: ECB/06654 £750.000 GBP.
Microsoft Corporation Sweepstakes Promotion©2016
Winning No: 1654
Season Greetings!!!
WE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT AS A RESULT OF OUR RECENT LOTTERY DRAWS
HELD ON THE 13TH OF JANUARY 2016.
We are happy to notify you that your e-mail address has been awarded
£750.000GBP in our MICROSOFT E-MAIL PROMO AWARD 2016 cash credited to file
REFNO:MSW-L/2016-28793,BATCH NO.4365MS. Your secret pin code is
ML0757985.for claims please contact::Mrs Joan Cole claim officer email
below::Email: www.microsoftwinni@qq.com Tel: +447035900545 ©Microsoft
YOU ARE ADVISED TO FILL THE FORM BELOW FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR AWARDS FUND
IMMEDIATELY.
[1] Full Names:
[2] Contact address:
[3] Country :
[4] Direct Mobile No:
[5] Occupation :
[6] Sex/Age :
[7] Marital Status :
[8] Other Email Address :
Congratulations Once More!!!
Yours Faithfully,
Hon.Mr.Satya Nadella
Microsoft Corporation/CEO
(Chief Co-ordinator)
Copyright © 2006-2018
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Disclaimer: The information in this email is confidential and may be legally
privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee and others authorized to
receive it. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying,
distribution or action taken in reliance on its content is prohibited and
may be unlawful.
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Anti-fraud resources:
