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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)
- "you are advise to" (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: "Mr. Steve Michaels." <stanlawson1@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: ashakamma_foreign.office@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2017 11:00:33 -0700
Subject: Attn: Sir
--
Attn: Sir
Payment Notification of Five million Five hundred thousand Dollars
only($5,500,000.00)
Be officially informed that we have received an authorization from the
World bank and United Nations to release your long awaiting fund to
you without any further delay.
You are advise to reconfirm the following information:
Full Name
Full Address
Phone/Mobile phone number
via email to enable us complete the processing and approve your fund
for immediate release of your fund to you as the beneficiary.As soon
as the above information is received,we shall send you further
instructions for prompt release of your fund.
Finally, you are advise to stop all communication with other officials
to enable us serve you better.
I awaits your urgent response.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Steve Michaels.
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Anti-fraud resources:
