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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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- dupiusmichael@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: THE UNITED NATION <fbiinvestigation.fbi22@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dupiusmichael@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:33:35 -0500
Subject: Your Notification
FROM THE DESK OF MR. MICHAEL DU PIUS
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,
WORLD BANK NIGERIA ANNEX, ABUJA-NIGERIA.
Overdue Payment Notification
ATTN: BENEFICIARY
We hereby officially notifying you with the bilateral agreement reached
with United State Treasury Department and World Bank Nigeria Annex to upset
your payment valued $10.5 Million, this payment arrangement as to enable
our Contractors/Inheritance beneficiary to receive their fund without any
interference through our Electronic Wire Transfer, World Bank Certified
Bank Draft and ATM Master Card. You are hereby advised to choose any of the
above options that suit you to enable this reputable office to finalize and
effect your payment without any delay.
I write, your payment will be made to you before 10th October 2022 . As
your payment is in Category C and all the payment in Category C has to
receive their payment on or before 10th October 2022 .
Hereby advice as a matter of urgency to update us with the payment options
of your wish as to know how to meet up with the documentation exercise
which will take (3) three working days to be completed before payment of
your funds will be affected in your favor. Contact me immediately on these
E-mails: dupiusmichael@gmail.com .
We look forward to hear from you.
Yours truly
MR.MICHAEL DU PIUS
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