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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:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "account opening" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "bantransferdepbnk022@outlook.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: "BRUCE (BOA)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bantransferdepbnk022@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 12:39:37 -0400
Subject: Your Account Number is: 45733357420 (Charity Funds)
Date: July 24th 2014
Non Residence account details
Your Account Number is: 45733357420
Password: 1212
We accept full responsibility for the mistake in the delay of your charity funds and I assure you we are taking the necessary steps to prevent it from happening in the future. Thank you and the apex bank for bringing this matter to our attention.
We hereby inform you that this account has not been fully activated to
Allow you the privilege in the transfer of the pending charity funds to your nominated account
You are by this message advised to choose for activation any of the
Following non residence account:
1. NON RESIDENCE PERSONAL/SAVINGS ACCOUNT
This can be used to receive and manage salaries, pensions and
Day-to-day shopping accounts. Minimum Initial deposit (Account opening & Activation fee) is $50 (Fifity United states dollars)
2. NON RESIDENCE CURRENT ACCOUNT
This applies to small and medium scale business enterprises. It will
Provide good platform for in-flow and out-flow of large amount of
Money. Minimum Initial deposit (Account Opening & Activation fee) is $100 (One Hundred United States dollars)
3.NON RESIDENCE BUSINESS ACCOUNT:
This account has a life span of 12 month. It is specially meant for
funds in transit and the customer must close the account at the end of 12
Months. It has capacity to receive and transfer large sum of money. The
Initial deposit (Account Opening & Activation fee) is $200 ( Two Hundred United states dollars)
4.NON RESIDENCE HOLDING ACCOUNT:
This is particularly fashioned to serve the high scale entrepreneurs,
contractors and banks that deal with maximum in-flow and out-flow of
funds Minimum Initial deposit (Account Opening & Activation fee ) is $300 ( Three Hundred United states Dollars).
You are by this message advice to kindly choose any of this non residence account options so that we can quickly open and activate the non residence account in your favour for the smooth transfer of the funds to your nominated account.
Thanking you for your cooperation as we await your urgent reply on the choice of your account options so that we can activate it and proceed on the release of the charity funds.
Kindly reply to this personal email with your account options, full name, address and personal phone number (bantransferdepbnk022@outlook.com)
YOURS IN SERVICE
Bruce R. Thompson,
Chief Financial Officer & Africa Country Director
Bank of America
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Anti-fraud resources:
