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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- sen.committee@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MENSSAH MICHAEL" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:08:45 -0800
Subject: RE: ATTENTION
TO: THE BENEFICIARY
It is still very unbelieving that you will abandon your funds for all this while. Well, I am happy to inform you that the Presidency has canceled all odds over your transaction and has mandated that your Funds be released to you by means of Certified Cashier's Check. Further to that, the Office of the Committee of Senate has declared that all the necessary documents required for the release of this Bank Draft in your favour should be made available in your name as urgently as possible. He also declared that we MUST ensure the immediate issuance and delivery of your Bank Draft without any further sort of delay.
You are hereby advised to urgently reconfirm your details to the Office incharge of the Procurement of the necessary documents in your name to facilitate the Certified Bank Draft delivery. Please quickly contact the Office of the Hon. Senate Committee on Public Account & Estates Management
SEN. R. A. SALAKO
E-mail: sen.committee@rocketmail.com
Provide them with the necessary data to aid completion of processing in your interest.
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
We await your fast feedback.
SUCCESS at last. Congratulations!
YOURS IN SERVICE,
MICHAEL MENSSAH
ACCESS CREDIT UNIT.
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Anti-fraud resources:
