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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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.
- vivian.smith59@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Sunny Owo <ssunnyowo01@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2015 23:30:47 -0700
Subject: be informed
Re: Transfer of Funds to your nominated account.
Attn:
This is to inform you that our finance company has been mandated by
the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa to remit your
outstanding Funding that is in a suspense deposit account here. We
shall remit your fund in four (4) instrumental phases. The management
will also like to Inform you that our remittance department has been
receiving different request from different individuals/companies for
the claims to the funds and a change to the beneficiary status and
account details.
Recently there was a formal request by Mr. Edward C. Ringer of Ringer
Company, Tampa Bay, Florida for the change of your account to Terrace
Bank through some individuals claiming to be your local
representatives here in South Africa.
The management will like you to send the following information for the
successful transfer of your funds and also to avoid the transfer of
your funds into a different nominated account and wrong beneficiary.
The information required from you is listed below:
1) Your full name and address
2) Your banking details where your funds will be transferred.
3) Your telephone and fax number.
You are required to get in touch with Mrs.Vivian Smith who is your
payment officer on (vivian.smith59@gmail.com) for further instructions
on how your funds will be transferred.
There is an option if you want the funds to be brought to you in your
country then you can advise your payment officer on that issue.In
regards to the present situation, a lot of people are claiming that
you gave them authority over your funds and you are therefore advised
in your own interest to cut off all communications between you and
your local representatives to avoid the wrongful transfer of your
funds into another Persons account.
The Management will like to apologize on behalf of the Government of
South Africa for the long delay of the transfer of your funds into
your account.
On receipt of your mail or phone call to the Payment officer
(Ms.Vivian Smith) your funds will be transferred into your account
Under 10 working
days.
You are advised to adhere to this instruction.
Congratulations.
Yours Sincerely
Sunny Owo
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