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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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.
- 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.
- ukwobankauditors@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: THE WORLD BANK <ukwobankauditors@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:54:23 +0100
Subject: Re: RE-URGENT MESSAGE ......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DIRECTOR
FROM DR. GODWIN BROWN
RE-OUTSTANDING PAYMENT:
URGENT ATTENTION,
THIS IS TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THERE IS AN UNCLAIMED FUND AMOUNTING
TO TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY (US$10,000,000.00) IN OUR BANK
WHICH HAS REMAINED UNPAID IN YOUR FAVOR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
YOU ARE HEREBY REQUIRED TO CONTACT US URGENTLY FOR YOUR PAYMENT.
RE-CONFIRM YOUR DETAILS:
[1] YOUR FULL NAMES:
[2] YOUR OFFICIAL ADDRESS:
[3] YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR CONFIRMATION:
(4) YOUR AGE/ OCCUPATION
THANK YOU.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR. GODWIN BROWN
REPLY FOR MORE DIRECTIVES TO PROCEED ON THIS
E-MAIL:ukwobankauditors@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
