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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- consult03@mynet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "A. Janet Michael" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2017 22:13:39 -0700
Subject: Re: Your Payment Update.
Re: Your Payment Update.
Attention: Beneficiary,
The auditors has hand over your payment authorization file to Rev. Chim of the debt settlement commission in Nigeria, the auditors have instructed them to release in these quarter an approved US$1.5million to you being part payment of your inheritance funds.
You are to reconfirm your full names, contact address and direct telephone numbers to Rev. Chim of the debt settlement commission via email ( consult03@mynet.com ) for immediate remittance of payment to you.
Do let us know once you receive your US$1.5million from Rev. Chim for the updating of our record.
Yours faithfully.
A. Janet Michael.
Payment Coordinator,
United Nations International Oversight.
FORWARD REPLY/INFO TO REV. CHIM'S EMAIL : consult03@mynet.com
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Anti-fraud resources: