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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:
- "million dollars" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infoun2002@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 31 May 2020 14:45:27 +0100
Subject: UNITED NATIONS PAY UPDATE.
United Nations Headquarters
The complex served as an official
United Nations seat since
its completion in 1952
New York, NY 10017, United States
UNITED NATIONS PAY UPDATE.
We want to inform you that after a series of discussions with our Board of Directors of Telephone Banking System (TBS),
your outstanding payment of ($ 25 million) held by Security Companies / Boa is signed and approved for payment was) by the United Nations.
To achieve our goal of releasing your fund, we recommend that you reconfirm the following information so that we can complete this transaction with you before the end of the months.
Your full name.
Your Complete Address.
Direct Telephone: Number.
Mobile number.
Occupation.
Nationality.
Finally, your response to this email should be made immediately before it will be too late for you to receive your total funds.
(Twenty Five Million Dollars by Telephone Banking System of payment.
Waiting for your immediate response.
Regards
Gerald Mclean
UN Foreign Payment Officer
Cell phone; + 1 312 724 6088
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Anti-fraud resources:
