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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "EMIRATE MAY RESOURCES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevedeckins@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:14:22 +0100
Subject: RECONFIRM YOUR DETAILS.
Attention:
Good day. Yes I was directed by my boss to send you the certified bank Check as compensation for your winnings - $950.000.00(NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND USD). Be informed that the check will be sent from LONDON but through my boss's account with NATWEST BANK LONDON so the check will bear NATWEST BANK LONDON. This is a real check, so rest assured that the money will be cleared in your account immediately it is deposited in your account.
You are required to reconfirm your full name, address where the certified bank Check will be sent. Your telephone number is also needed for easy communication. Below is what you sent to us already. All I need now is for you to reconfirm your details.
YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR FULL ADDRESS:
REACHABLE PHONE NUMBERS:
PHOTOCOPY OF IDENTITY CARD:
Confirm the above information immediately and give back to me.
I await your urgent and swift response.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Steve Deckins
www.emr.fr
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Anti-fraud resources:
