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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.
- 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:
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- donedwardsantiago@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "EDWARD SANTIAGO" <pedrogomezaol@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "EDWARD SANTIAGO" <donedwardsantiago@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:17:44 -0700
Subject: INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT UNIT
PLAZA JUAN CARLOS 1
28005
MADRID SPAIN
TELE/FAX: +34602111225
www.grupobancopopular.com
Good day
I just want to inform you that I have deposited your ATM
MASTER CARD of USD $5,000,000 United state dollars to the
payment release officer here in SPAIN,due to I have waited
enough to hear from you so that your payment funds will be
transferred through BANCO POPULAR (BANK OF SPAIN) here, but
because of the late response I now decide to deposit the ATM
MASTER CARD with the Courier Services.
Therefore I will advise you to fill the information below
and forward it to the delivery officer in charge for safe
delivery
Name: Edward Santiago
Email: donedwardsantiago@gmail.com
country and this Parcel Number EG2272-B this payment has
been made available to you by the United nations from
the unpaid fund in the ESPAÑA treasury which was
released last year by World Bank for
economic uplift.
NOTE: SEND YOUR DETAILS IMMEDIATELY TO THIS EMAIL: donedwardsantiago@gmail.com
Yours Truly
EDWARD SANTIAGO (Director IRD)
INTERNAL PAYMENT UNIT
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Anti-fraud resources:
