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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.
- 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:
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- obishehjohn993@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UBA BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <obishehjohn993@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2019 08:17:13 +0100
Subject: Treat as urgent
UBA BANK FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
BENIN WEST AFRICA.
OUR REF:U.B./MF/B01/Vol 01
obishehjohn993@gmail.com
This is to officially inform you that we have verified inheritance online wining file and found out why you have not received your scam victim compensate payment Which was approve by united nation in your name is because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your inheritance payment. after our official meeting yesterday United Nations office has agreed to compensate all scam victims which your email is inclusive and total payment of $10.5M USD is approved in your favor. Therefore we have arranged your total payment of $10.5M USD through ATM VISA CARD which is the latest instruction from the World Bank president. This compensation includes international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.
Reconfirm the following Information to me if you are still willing to receive your funds:
1. Your Email adress is needed
2. Phone number.......
4. Occupation......
5. Country......./ HOME ADRESS.....
6. A copy of your valid ID...
Mr.john obisheh
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Anti-fraud resources: