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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:
- "foreign service manager" (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 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: Dr Perez Ego<sales@e-trades.top>
Reply-To: perezego6@gmail.com
Date: 15 Mar 2024 02:56:29 -0700
Subject: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION
Date: 15-1-2024
Reference number: UCV/777/555/12426/024
Batch number: 02-3773ESP
OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of LA PRIMITIVA LOTTERY NEW
YEAR PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM 2024, Your name was entered as an
alternative number attached with Reference number:
UCV/777/555/12426/024 with Batch number: 02-3773ESP drew the
lucky numbers 07-15-25-31-34-46, which consequently won the
lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved a
lump sum payment of €985,950.00 (NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EUROS ONLY) in cash shared among
the (Eleven international winners in this category).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
To begin your claims, contact Dr Perez Ego the ZENITH SECURITY
COMPANY S.L
For the processing and remittance of your money. Remember to
quote your winning number in all correspondence.
Thanks
Sincerely yours
Dr Perez Ego
(Foreign Service manager)
ZENITH SECURITY COMPANY S.L(SPAIN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
