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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- "edwardsmith.halifax11@secretarias.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +448715035979 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "FINANCE SECURITY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardsmith.halifax11@secretarias.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 17:17:35 -0800
Subject: CONTACT HALIFAX BANK PLC
Dear valued beneficiary,
This electronic message is confidential and strictly for you.
This is to inform you that we have officially verified your account with your bank and have found your account eligible to receive the fund valued £4.600,000.00 (Four Million, Six hundred thousand Great British Pounds.) from United States of America Government ongoing compensation and empowerment program as a result of the recent world economic and financial crisis? Please Contact Halifax Bank Plc to enable effect of transfer immediately without any further delay.
As soon as they hear from you, transfer protocols shall commence through the international Bank to Bank Wired Transfer into your account. Please advice immediately for onward action.
BANK NAME: HALIFAX BANK PLC
BANK OPERATION MANAGER: MR. EDWARD SMITH
EMAIL ADDRESS: edwardsmith.halifax11@secretarias.com
FAX: +44 871 5035 979
Thank you
Financial Department
United Nations
Bank Security Alert
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Anti-fraud resources:
