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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Steven Dean <staff1117743@att.net>
Reply-To: jermander@live.com
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 06:32:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Scam Victims
Dear Scam Victims,
We hereby officially notifying you about the present arrangement to pay you,
your lost fund during your communication with Africa contract/inheritance fund
of US$ 3.5M (US$3,500,000.00) which you could not complete the process of the
released of your transfer pin code through the Digitalis Payment System. We have
decided to pay your funds,but through (ATM Master Express Credit Card) This
arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank due to
fraudulent activities going on within the African Region.
The World Bank introduced this payment arrangement as to enable our
contractors/inheritance beneficiary to receive their fund without any
interference. the ATM Master Express Credit Card was contracted and powered by
GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.Reconfirm the following information to us for Security
reason.
A.) Your Full Name
B.) Your Receiving Address.
C.) Your Telephone Number
D.) Your Profession.
E.) Your ID.
Upon the receipt of this mail we are going to load your fund into the Master
Express Credit Card and send a scan copy of the card to you before we will
proceed to dispatch the card directly to your nominated home address so you
absolutely have nothing to worry about all we need is your Prompt Response and
Co-operation.
Best Regards,
Mr. Steven Dean.
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Anti-fraud resources:
