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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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!
Fraud email example:
From: "MICROSOFT CORPORATION" <mchmielecki@spoleczna.pl>
Reply-To: andrewduncan@one.lt
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2017 16:54:53 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL OF US AT MICROSOFT .
MICROSOFT=AE CORPORATION =
United States Head Office =
157th Ave NE Redmond, =
Washington 98052. =
United States.
=
PRODUCT AWARD NOTIFICATION LETTER
=
On behalf of Microsoft Corporation Edinburgh USA, we wish to notify all our=
online customers as we celebrate the Microsoft Edinburgh product Award for=
2017 and also to congratulate you for emerging as the third (3rd) prize wi=
nner in our E-mail Electronic Online Random Selection program Organized for=
the year 2017 Microsoft Edinburgh Products Award. This Programme is held e=
very year with the aim of encouraging the use of Microsoft Products on the =
Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide.
=
You have therefore been cleared to receive the sum of =A3845, 000 00 GBP (E=
ight hundred and forty five thousand British Pounds Sterling) and a Brand n=
ew HP Pavilion DM4 Laptop which consequently was staked to be won in the 3r=
d category.A Cheque will be issued in your name by Microsoft Corporation Bo=
ard. You are advised to e-mail the Microsoft Payment Consultant with the fo=
llowing details below for your claims processing.
=
Mr. Andrew Duncan =
Foreign Payment Consultant
E-mail: andrewduncan@one.lt
=
You are also required to provide the following information for your Payment=
processing.
=
Full Name: =
Permanent Residential Address: =
Tel (Mobile): =
Nationality/Country of Residence: =
Age/Sex: =
Occupation/Position: =
What is your comment on Microsoft Products?
=
NOTE!!! For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning informat=
ion confidential till your claims are processed and your money remitted to =
you. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and=
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be=
WARNED!!!!
=
Congratulations from staffs & members of Microsoft Board Commission.
=
Derrick McCourt. =
Regional Director, =
Microsoft Incorporation. =
=A92017 Microsoft Corporation=AE
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Anti-fraud resources:
