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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)
- 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.
- anthony_oke1@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ANTHONY OKE <test70@flexmore.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <anthony_oke1@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2016 18:52:38 -0600
Subject: RE: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION T/C: 25750
Attention:
I am Anthony Oke the newly appointed International remittance director of the United Bank For Africa. It was brought to my Notice that you have been facing difficulties in having your long overdue funds of the tune of $10,500,000.00 remitted to you due to the several loop holes and greedy bank officials and government officials trying to extort money from beneficiaries claiming to assist them in repatriating their funds.
I want you to know that the Federal Government has mandated all financial Institutions to remit all foreign debts owed to its rightful beneficiaries as well as confiscate all unclaimed funds and have it sent back to the government treasuries on or before the next 7 bank working days.
Due to the wide spread of fraud going on all over the world and impersonations by this impostors a transaction code has been created by the Federal government to this effect. This Transaction code has been issued to all financial institutions to avoid fraud and impersonations. Be warned do not respond to any mail from anyone claiming to have your funds without this Transaction Code: 25750. You are not meant to disclose this transaction code to anyone. Any mail coming from this office must carry the code and also your response must also carry this code in the subject field at all times.
A payment method has been devised to carry out this remittance exercise via the following;
1. Bank to Bank Wire Transfer
2. Via ATM Inter switch Master Card
3. Via Certified International Bank draft
Kindly Provide me with the following details to enable the swift release of your funds to you without any further delay.
1. Your Full Name: ...............
2. Age and Sex: ...................
3. Occupation: .....................
4. Valid Contact Address: ..................
5. Direct Mobile Number: ...................( For effective communication)
6. Preferred payment Method : ......................
7. Valid copy of your Identity either driver's license, international passport or work Id to avoid impersonation.
Remember your urgent response is needed to enable us discharge our duties promptly.
Kindly send all further correspondence to my private email : anthony_oke1@aol.com
Regards,
Mr. Anthony Oke
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