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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: "UnionBank Galanet" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <u_nionlotto2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 14:40:38 +0100
Subject: WINNER - FIFA WORLD CUP ONLINE DRAW
Ref.Number: MICROAA3/759-0
Batch: 35000765031-BTA/09
Sir/Madam
This is to inform you that your Email was selected anonymously through a Computer ballot system from 100,000 E-mail addresses world wide. Your E-mail emerged as the winner of the 10 selected email address to win the sum of US$2,550,000 (Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars). This program is sponsored and conducted by Union Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with GalaNet online services for the 2010 FIFA world cup.
Payment will be made to you via bank transfer to a nominated bank account of your choice or through a certified cashiers cheque. You are therefore required to reply immediately confirming receipt of this email notification as well as send these informations as requested below to enable us process your claim.
Your Full Name:...................................
Telephone and fax Numbers:........................
Residential Address:..............................
Occupation........................................
Marital Status....................................
Mr. Desmond Ogalanya
Coordinator UnionGala Lotto.
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Anti-fraud resources:
