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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:
- "u.k " (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.
- tobias_ad@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "From: Alterra Capital U.K Ltd" <owen.wei.elinpack@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tobias_ad@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 01:59:02 -0700
Subject: Attention please!!!
Dear Beneficiary / Creditor
Re: YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT / DEBT SETTLEMENT OFFER
Let us settle your owed funds and long overdue awaited payment. We
discovered an overdue outstanding payment in your benefit in the
Global Bureau of Public Debt, The Global Debt Monitor.
We can save you all the stress and pay you upfront the total funds
owed you and make our reclaim via His Majesty's Treasury Financial
Services Compensation Scheme (HMTFSCS) from the IMF Foreign Debt &
Relief Trust (FDRT).
We charge a deductible 1% of your total owed amount and the 99%
balance paid you upfront, then we process and make our reclaim
thereafter. The 1% charge is the cost/premium for buying our Insurance
cover on your owed funds, therefore you will not need to make any
payment for the Insurance premium. The Insurance program guarantees
safe & secure settlements for all parties' debt settlement & reclaim.
Simply indicate your interest and we solve your outstanding payment
problem within 5 working days.
Feel free to ask any questions for clarification.
Best regards
Mr. Tobias Adrian
Chief Actuary, Alterra Capital U.K Ltd
Contact email: tobias_ad@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
