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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:
- "financial_credit_commission01@msn.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.
Fraud email example:
From: SOLOMON BONI <lar---mas@att.net>
Reply-To: financial_credit_commission01@msn.com
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:24:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT FINANCIAL CREDIT COMMISSION FOR YOUR ATM CARD
Attn: Beneficiary
This is to inform you that your outstanding payment of the sum of Usd $3.5
Million has been approved to be paid to you by the ministry of finance.
I bring to your notice that your payment will be paid to you through swift
Card payment instrument ( Atm visa Card).
The Atm Visa Card is valid for you to make withdrawal of your funds in any
Bank or anywhere Atm credit union machine is functionable in the world.
You are hereby advised to contact the office of the Financial Credit Commission
for release of the Atm Visa Card.
Below is the contact information Of the Financial Credit Commission.
Contact,
FINANCIAL CREDIT COMMISSION
Contact person: Mr.Frank David
Email: financial_credit_commission01@msn.com
Contact the above office of the Financial Credit Commission
For the release of your Atm Visa Card.
Yours faithfully,
Mr.SOLOMON BONI
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Anti-fraud resources:
