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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "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.
- 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.
- citib571@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- transfer to any bank account of your choice contact email: citib571@gmail.com you are hereby advised to keep this donation strictly (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ALAN SMITH <kabiruabdullahiimam2019@gmail.com>
Reply-To: charlesfred292@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 14:26:28 +0100
Subject: DEAR CUSTOMER
--
FROM THE DESK OF MR. CHARLES FEENEY
UNITED NATION AUTHORIZE OFFICE.
DONATION FUNDS PERMIT DEPARTMENT OFFICE.
ATTENTION.
This is to acknowledge the receipt of your details and to confirm your
reliability in this donation. What is the update between you and Mr
Alan Smith Citibank Manager Director regarding your donation funds of
$12.9 million us dollars which has been permitted to your name? I have
decided to use mAy Bank Citibank (111 Wall Street New York) to disburse
this donation funds to your position.
Therefore, I have issued out a bank draft of [$12.900,000 US MILLION
DOLLARS] in your name through my attorney Mrs Hilda Williams, which
has been sent for deposit with my bank in Citibank (111 wall Street
New York), the Bank is authorized to conclude the disbursement of the
funds via Online Banking or ATM CARD or Bank Draft Check or Bank Wire
Transfer to any Bank account of your choice Contact Email:
citib571@gmail.com
You are hereby advised to keep this donation strictly confidential
until your claim has been fully recovered before you can share the
good news. Kindly contact the bank for instructions of the wire
transfer.
Fill below the contact information of my bank in Bank Name: Citibank
Manager Mr. Alan Smith and also contact him via email address
charlesfred292@gmail.com
Contact Person Director: Mr. Alan Smith
Contact Email: charlesfred292@gmail.com
Service Center 111 Wall Street New York
Please note that upon your contact with Mr. Alan Smith, you are to
provide him with your Full Name so he can verify you with information
sent to him already. Please endeavor to keep me fully informed on all
developments with the bank so that I can also monitor the transfer
process through feedback from you.
Your full cooperation is highly anticipated.
Best Regards,
mr charlesfred292@gmail.com
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