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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:
- "clearance fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "United Nation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednationofficedp@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:31:31 -0700
Subject: Very Urgent
Attention,
This is to acknowledge the receipt of the information's your next of kin Mr.Wright, has provided to us Bank of America N.A.
Address 401 South Virginia St.
City State Zip Reno Nevada 89501.
Routing # 026009593
Account # 004969061746
Swift Code BOFAUS3N. and to re-confirm from you,if truly you are the person that sent your next of kin to pay your transfer clearance fee on your behalf since you have been hospitalized.Be aware that we will accept what ever he issue to us as evidence if we do not hear from you within the next 2 working days since your payment have been approved.We await your urgent response via email.
UN.
Making the world a better place for every one.
Yours Sincerely,
Ban Ki-Moon, (UN Secretary General).
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Anti-fraud resources: