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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:
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "UBA Bank Nig,Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rochaskenneddy@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2017 18:51:53 -0300
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF FUND PAYMENT BY ATM CARD
Attention
This is to officially inform you that (ATM Card number: 4848-4221-0841-4685) has been accredited in your favor according to the beneficiaries list available in our data, your name has been short listed as one of the beneficiaries to be paid this month, I officially write to notifies you of this present arrangement to pay you.
We shall also require you to confirm your acceptance to receive your funds payment by ATM Card as you forward your direct details/ Mobile telephone number, Full name and address.
Your immediate response is very important.
Yours sincerely,
Mr.Rochas Kennedy
Payment Officer (UBA FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT)
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Anti-fraud resources:
