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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:
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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: Edward Williams <edwilliams@otenet.gr>
Reply-To: moneygram.org11@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 10:57:19 +0100
Subject: Warning Unpaid Beneficiary,
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Warning Unpaid Beneficiary,
It's my pleasure to inform you That after-our Board of Directors
meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Concluded we-have to
release your Inheritance Funds Overdue Worth US $ 2.8 Million through
our Remittance Service Money Gram.
Moreover we based our agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Will Be receiving send you US $ 15,000 was daily basis up to your total
payments Worth US $ 2.8 Million is completely Call Transferred.
Meanwhile you are required to Provide the details below accordingly:
1) Your Full Name:
2) Your Full Address:
3) Phone Number:
Furthermore you are required to send US $ 199 which Will enable our
authority the Ministry of Finance signs the Funds Release Order We are
waiting for your responds urgently to enable us start with this project.
Yours in Service
Edward Williams
Tel: +229 990 085 59
General Manager Money Gram
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Anti-fraud resources:
