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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)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Doris Chimes" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.dorischimes@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 04:35:06 -0400
Subject: Attention:Unclaimed US$8.3Million in your favor
Imf World regulatory office
International Funds Regulatory Authority
Inter-continental Debt reconciliation Dept.
>From the Desk of: Honorable. Mrs. Doris Chimes Director; IMF world regulatory office.
Attention:Unclaimed US$8.3Million in your favor
This email is to notify you about the release of your outstanding payment of $8.3 million. The Federal Government scheduled a time frame to
settle all foreign debts which includes Contract,Inheritance and Lottery Payments. News had it that over the past, numerous individuals both
impostors and non-officials of Banks are claiming to release funds to beneficiaries via numerous ways.
After our extensive investigations a serious meeting was held by the Board of Directors on your behalf and it was decided in your own favor and
best interest to reduce the payment for the clearance certificate to $95 so that you can meet up with the payment, please you are given only
48hours to make this payment so that we can release your US$8.3Million in our care so we advice you to pay the $95 through the western union
money transfer or money gram money transfer to the information which I shall provide to you in my next letter after hearing from you.
We are here to serve you as our word is our bond to you.confirm the receipt of this e-mail immediately and be rest assured that you will be
smiling to your bank once you comply with the above directives. Please re-confirm your Full name:- Contact Address:- and your Direct telephone
Number for cross examination.
Best Regards
Mrs. Doris Chimes
Direct Line :- +2348169316607
IMF world regulatory office.
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