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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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.
- anthony_thomas2014@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: united nations <unitednationfundpaymentinf2015@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: united nations <UNPI_2015@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:49:37 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: UNITED NATIONS PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
 From Dr. Eric Nelson.
Payment Director,
United Nations Accra Ghana.
Email: UNPI_2015@outlook.com
Hot Line: +233-2432-96492.
Sir,
This is to notify you that your Inheritance/Contract fun US$25.5 ( Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only ) has been approved by this office to effect through our Affiliate off shore centre in Paris France.
For this reason, You are advised to call and write our Agent who is presently in Switzerland to enable you and him arrange on your arriving date in Paris France because he is the person who shall lead you to the Affiliate office in Paris France for this payment.
Contact the Agent on the below details and proceed with him and make sure you keep us up-date for record purposes. Make sure you adhere with his instructions.
MR.ANTHONY THOMAS
anthony_thomas2014@yahoo.com
TELEPHONE: +41 762 557 126
Finally, you are advised to arrange your self on or before end of this January 2015 because all the payment shall be over on the 31st day of January 2015.
Again make sure you furnish us with the bellow details:
1. YOUR FULL ADDRESS/COMPANY ADDRESS IF ANY.
2. YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE/MOBILE/FAX NUMBERS.
3. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION FOR RECORD PURPOSES.
4. YOUR OTHER INFORMATIONS.
Yours Faithfully.
Dr. Eric Nelson.
Payment Director,
United Nations Accra Ghana.
Email: UNPI_2015@outlook.com
Hot Line: +233-2432-96492.
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