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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:
- "account opening 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. )
- "customercare@evergreenonline.tk" (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: "FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <office20.of.fbi@post.com>
Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 10:03:03 -0700
Subject: IRREVOCABLE PAYMENT
FBI POST Divisional Office,
PORTLAND - OREGON,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IRREVOCABLE PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUND.
After a meeting was held with Federal Reserve System and United Nation, i have been mandated to write you to contact Ever Green Federal Bank of America and set up a fresh account so that your long outstanding inheritance/contract fund valued $10.5million will be credited by British Deposit Insurance Incorporation for onward credit to your private bank account.
British Deposit Insurance will credit your account as soon as you set up a new account with Ever Green Bank only and the bank will issue account login access to you so that you can gain complete access to the account for withdrawals and transfers. You have 100% assurance and guarantee from us to confirm existence of fund mentioned in this email without hitch or delay.
Kindly contact the CEO & President of Ever Green Bank, Mr. Jeffrey Hyde for opening of account in his bank.
Contact Person: Jeffrey Hyde
Email Address: customercare@evergreenonline.tk
Be rest assured that account opening fee is still your money and can be withdrawn back if access is given to you.This transaction is 100% protected from scam and any fraudulent activity. Keep me informed as soon as you open account.
Yours In Service,
Michael Pilchta.
FBI Agent in Charge.
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Anti-fraud resources:
