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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.
- 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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "foreign exchange" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- officereplybackmaill@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR WILLIAMS JOHNSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officereplybackmail@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:36:51 -0700
Subject: Att: Fund Beneficiary
Dr Williams Johnson
Chairman Board Of Trusteefedra ministry of finance foreign exchange depertment.
23/36 National Assembly Complex, Gariki-Abuja
Tel:+234-8026715753
Fax:+234-8057782046
E-Mail: officereplybackmaill@yahoo.com
Att: Fund Beneficiary
,
I Advice You Call Back Immediately
How Are You Today?
I Write To Inform You That I Am Back To The Office After My Motor Accident And I Am Very Sorry For All That You Have Passed Through For Not Getting Your Fund Since All This And I Give You My Word Of Assurance Through The Strength Of God Almighty To Ensure That Your Fund Is Been Transfer To Your Bank Account.
So My Dear Beneficiary I Will Help You %100 At This Point To Get Your Fund Transfer To Your Account.
So, If You Are Still Willing To Get This Fund Kindly Write Me Back And I Will Work Towards This
And Nothing Will Deprive You Of Getting Your Fund Because All Arrangement Has Been Done For Your Best Interest, Once Again And Listen For The Service That I Will Render At This Point, As You May Know That I Will Spend My Time, Money And Many Other Thing To Get This Done Without Any Further Delay And You Must Have A Compensation % To Me.
So Get Back Urgently As I Wait For Your Urgent Resounds And You Will Never Regret This And You Are To Get Back With The Below Information To Enable Me Facilitate This Payment Without Any Further Delay.
Full Name:
Home Address:
Phone Number:
Sex:
So You Are To Get Back In Receipt Of This Mail For An Update.
We Await Your Swift Compliance
Dr Williams Johnson
Chairman Board Of Trustee
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Anti-fraud resources:
