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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Valley National Agency <diplomatdavidchacha1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Valley National Agency <eng.johnsonscott1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 00:29:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: This is your registration code (DHJKT00678G)
Congrats Dear ATM Visa Card Owner
Notice has reached the Valley National Agency ATM Department to release your compensation fund through an ATM Visa Card worth 18,500,000.00usd. We have programmed this card for your daily withdrawal of 10,000.00usd to give you access for use.
This was part of debt reconciliation of all outstanding payment which you are to receive from West Africa as endorsed by the African heads of government and Valley National Agency New Jersey, United State of America
Details will be emailed to you as soon as we receive your mailing details below.
(1.) Full Name:
(2.) House Address:
(3.) Marital Status:
(4.) Occupation:
(5.) Phone Number:
(6.) Country:
(7.) Age:
(8.) Your valid ID or passport copy.
Best Regards
Eng.Johnson Scott
ATM Department
Valley National Agency
New Jersey, United State of America
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Anti-fraud resources:
