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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- unitednationoffice11@asia.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: UNITED NATION OFFICE MALAYSIA <sotonyej@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unitednationoffice11@asia.com
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2015 13:19:23 -0800
Subject: MESSAGE FROM: US AMBASSADOR TO MALAYSIA
United Nations Malaysia,
Wisma UN, Block C
Kompleks Pejabat Damansara
Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights
50490 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA.
Tel: +60177286997
Email: unitednationoffice11@asia.com
Attention: my dear.
I am tired of what is going on over the whole world concerning the
scam rate and fake abusing of my name which is the most annoying part
of me now.
Many people have been complaining to me that i scam them from Africa
while i have never been to Africa for any compensation fund before but
i only reside here in Asia and Europe where the united nation office
is legally operating.
I want to let you know that i am very sorry for any email or call you
have receive from scammers claiming to be me while this is my first
time of sending you an email.
This is to let you know that your name is among those that will
receive $7.5 million dollars from United Nation Malaysia were i am
staying here by myself to monitor the transaction until you receive
it.
Please my dear. i am still sorry for what you may have encounter in
the past but kindly re-send me back your information now so that i
will start the processing steps.
Your Name....................
Your country................
Your Telephone Number.....
Your Address.............
Your Occupation.........
Your Age...........
Your Marital Status.....
Please get back to me with the above information now and i will
respond to you immediately with the best way to send the money across
to you with any delay.
Am still sorry for what you have encountered in the past.
You can reach me now at: +60177286997
Note: reply to: unitednationoffice11@asia.com
Regards.
Ban Ki Moon.
United Nation Secretary General.
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