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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Treasure Collins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aso.rock@punerocks.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:52:02 +0100
Subject: Urgent Memo-FUND RECOVERYretest DON
Attn Beneficiary,
I am Mrs. Treasure Collins, appointed by the United Nations to work with the Economic Community of West African States the ECOWAS on funds recovery and compensation for those who have been scammed in West Africa in the process of securing their funds.
The UN have mapped out US$150,000,000.00 ( One Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars) through the International Monetary Fund IMF for hundred lucky people who have been scammed in West Africa at the rate of US$1.5million to each and every one of you for this first quarter . Your emails were randomly selected as there are thousands of you who have been scammed and your email won, that is why you have been contacted.
You are required to contact me immediately with the followings:
Full Names.............................................
Address ...................................................
Bank Details................................................
Phone and Fax Numbers ............................
Age.................Sex...................................
Nationality..................................................
Copy of ID or Driver's License or Numbers
Contact me on my private email (aso.rocks@punerocks.com)
Your prompt compliance will enable us to serve you better.
Yours Faithfully
Mrs. Treasure Collins
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Anti-fraud resources:
