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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:
- "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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- officefill1986@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Maria Janet <mail@ma2info.com>
Reply-To: officefill1986@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 05:14:12 -0700
Subject: your abandoned ATM Master Card valued sum of US$15.5 Million
--
Dear Fund Beneficiary.
This is the 3rd time i am sending you this notification letter regarding
your abandoned ATM Master Card valued sum of US$15.5 Million and i have
not received any positive response from you or making a suggestion on
how you wish to receive your ATM Card. Once again; I am Mrs Maria Janet,
the new director ATM Head of Operation Zenith Bank Plc, I resumed this
office on the 10th of March 2023 and during my official I discovered an
abandoned ATM Master card valued sum of $15.5Million dollars belonging
to you as the rightfully intimate beneficiary.(officefill1986@gmail.com
)
I tried to know why this card has not been released to you but I was
told by the Union management that the former director ATM head of
operation who left this office four months ago withheld your card for
his own personal use without knowing that his evil plans towards
diverting your fund will be discovered.Alternatively it can be arranged
to ship to your address through any registered reliable courier service
company that you will take care of the courier charge, hope it is
cleared and accepted by you? (officefill1986@gmail.com )
I don't know the courier cost of shipping the card to you but if you
permit me and accept the terms, then I can make an inquiry from the
courier shipping company to find out the cost, but in that case you will
be required to forward to me your address where you want to receive the
card to enable me find out the shipping cost to your location.Your
direct telephone number and address will be needed and more details of
your ATM card payment will be made known to you as soon as
i receive your swift positive response.Thanks for your co-operation and
I wait for your kind positive response.(officefill1986@gmail.com )
(officefill1986@gmail.com )
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Maria Janet
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