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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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: frederick w smith <jerrymorgan526@gmail.com>
Reply-To: frederickwsmith917@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2022 15:32:29 -0700
Subject: Attention
--
ATTENTION DEAR BENEFICIARY!
YOU'RE WELCOME TO OUR CITIBANK OF AMERICA.
My Name Is Mr. frederick w smith , the new
Director Of Foreign Remittance Department.
Citibank of America USA, we know that you have not received Your funds
here in America we have finally cash your abandoned long a lost check
confirming to be your won compensation fund and we decided to boxed
the money for avoiding expiry of the check because it has stayed a
long in our Citibank here in America searching for the contact to
reach you after our investigation now we discovered that the money is
not an illegal payment, The fund values the sum of $10.8million
dollars USD. Is real ready to deliver to you cash So kindly reconfirm
your full delivery information as instructed below.
Your full Name..............
Your home address.......
Your city..................
Your nearest airport.......
Your email address......
Your Number.......
Your international passport/or drivers license /or state I.D,
Contact us immediately available number +1 (626) 765-5863
I'm waiting for your urgent and positive respond.
Sincerely
Mr. frederick w smith.
Director Of Foregn Remittance Department.
CitiBank USA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
