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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- departmentofficepayment@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Jeanette Valencia" <hassanhauwa923@gmail.com>
Reply-To: departmentofficepayment@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2022 23:33:15 -0800
Subject: Attn: Valued Beneficiary,
I hereby inform you that the IMF-International Monetary Fund conducted an
audit on the USA government account recently. And during our recent audit,
we discovered the total sum of Ten Million five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars Only (US$10,500,000.00) which has been approved in your name
but still unclaimed/unpaid. Having received this vital payment notification
letter,you are instantly qualified to receive and confirm your payment with
us within 24 hours.
Here are our methods of payment:
1. By Cashier check
2. By ATM Master card
3. By Bank-to-Bank wire transfer
Contact me on this email (departmentofficepayment@gmail.com)
So, you are advised to contact Dr.Kenneth Effiong and make sure you contact
him immediately for more details today.
Name:Mr Charles.
Contact E-mail Address (departmentofficepayment@gmail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources: