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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "apexfdclaimsunit@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "apexfdationhome@qq.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: "Apex Charity" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <apexfdation@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2015 09:07:05 -0500
Subject: PAYMENT REF#:PA52/5300
PAYMENT REF#:PA52/5300
Attention Lucky E-mail User: As part of Poverty alleviation program and social corporate responsibilities, Apex Foundation has donated the sum of 2.5 million pounds sterling to you using a ballot system with email addresses on the internet to determine winners. Please do contact this email address: apexfdclaimsunit@qq.com for more details on how you are to claim your humanitarian donation.
Fill this short form to enable the contracted paying bank process your payment.
1.Your payment Ref No: 2.Full Name: 3. Nationality. 4.Occupation: 5 Mobile telephone number.
Please keep your Ref payment number very confidential. Congratulations as we look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Apex Charity Org Int'l.
E-mail: apexfdationhome@qq.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
