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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Peter Wallace <m.sanusilamido@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wallace_petter@live.com
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 11:32:23 +0100
Subject: Payment Details
This is to officially bringing to your notice that the World Bank in
conjunction with the Federal Government of Nigeria inline with
Ministry of Finance has instructed us to release your winning,
Contract/ Inheritance funds to you within 72hrs ultimatum.
With the supporting evidence before the IMF in respect to your awaited
funds we wish to inform you that we have thoroughly investigated your
payment matter valued at $ 3.5 Million United States Dollars only
which has been overdue with the help of our Global Financial
Intelligence Monitoring Network System (GFIM) that you are having an
illegal transaction with people claiming to be working in various
banks as this is an illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish
to receive your payment now from our paying bank.
During our Investigation over your fund, we found out that the reason
why we have not release your fund to you was because you have not
fulfilled your Obligations given to you in respect to your fund and at
the same time you have choose to deal with the wrong people over your
fund, which is the main reason why your payment have been delayed up
till this moment, After much complains over beneficiary not been paid
the situation was brought to our office.
You will be receiving your fund through our affiliate bank without any
delay. Is possible for you to receive your funds from affiliate bank
office before ending next week. But you have to follow our
instructions so that your funds can be paid to you from our paying
bank office without any delay.
Secondly we are advising you not to have any contact with any body
till you receive your Funds from our paying bank.
Get back to us with the following information so that we can forward
you the contact information of the paying bank immediately. Please
prove all this information to enable us for verification of your file
very well to avoid any wrong payment from our paying bank before
directing you to our paying bank. send your information through this
E-mail: wallace_petter@live.com
You are to reply with your Your full name.....
Your mobile number....
Your age........
Your sex......
A copy of your verifiable ID for verification. .....
Your occupation.....
Your country...........
Your city........
Your Banking information.......
As soon as we received all this information you will be directing you
to the paying bank and they will act urgent to make your payment
immediately.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation. And God bless.
Best Regards,
Peter Wallace
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