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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand 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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447031969768 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- dr.anthonygibson2005@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Anthony Gibson" <gdranthony@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2015 00:45:55 -0800
Subject: WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
CONFIRM THIS INFORMATION TO THIS OFFICE NOW
Please beneficiary, did you instruct Mrs.Marie Barrow from Canada and
Mr.John Walters that work with Bank of America new York To claim your long
over due lotto, Inheritance fund and Investment fund valued at $5.5 million
which was deposited in our security vault for safe keeping by the united
states government
This is the bank account your representative Mrs.Marie Barrow provide for
us to wire your inheritance fund valued at $5.500,000 united states dollars
(Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) into
Bank Name: HSBC CANADA
Bank address : William Peter Boulevard CASTRIES SAINT LUCIA
Account Name: Marie Barrow
BANK CODE: H S B C L C L C.
TRANSIT #: 0575
Please get back to us now if you really instructed her to receive your
contract funds on your behalf.
You can reach me on my official email address :
dr.anthonygibson2005@gmail.com Telephone no: Tel: +447031969768
Your faithfully,
Dr.Anthony Gibson
Director Clearance department
United Nations
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Anti-fraud resources:
