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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Albert Kessen" <usatransfer.lee743@gmail.com>
Reply-To: transferuniteuk@rediffmail.com
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 11:40:22 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Payment Alert
FROM THE DESK OF: MR ALBERT KESSIEL.
OPERATIONAL MANAGER
ECO BANK GH
ACCRA GHANA
PRIVATE TELEPHONE:00233 246 873 564
ATTENTION:
PAYMENT TRANSFER NOTIFICATION.
WE HEREBY FORMALLY INFORM YOU OF THE APPROVAL OF YOUR PAYMENT WITH
ECO BANK.
WE THEREFORE URGE YOU TO INFORM US OF HOW YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR
PAYMENT CLAIM OF $1MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS,EITHER BY TELEGRAPHIC
TRANSFER, DRAFT, OR CASH.
YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER WILL BE USEFUL FOR THE COLLECTION
OF YOUR FUND.
MORE SO, YOU SHOULD SEND YOUR ACCOUNT COORDINATE FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSFER
PROCEEDINGS
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR.ALBERT KESSIN
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Anti-fraud resources:
