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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "United Nations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednations.un@mailbox.sk>
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:03:53 +0100
Subject: WBI/NF/UN/XX2011 UNITED NATIONS.
WBI/NF/UN/XX2011 UNITED NATIONS.
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
WIRE TRANSFER / AUDIT UNIT
GOOD DAY:
DIRECTOR: WORLD FUND DISCOVERY MANAGEMENT AND PAYMENT BUREAU.
This letter is from the United Nation World Fund Discovery Management And
Payment Bureau newly established by the World Financial Service Authority
United States Of America / United Kingdom.
This body was set up to discover an unpaid fund being owed to Governments
or Individuals all over the world through Contract Payment, Inheritance
and Lottery Winning Prize Awards.
It will interest you to know that we have discovered an unpaid / unclaimed
sum of money in favour of your name and a mandate has been given to this
body World Fund Discovery Management And Payment Bureau to ensure that
this fund gets to you without delay.
Note that a special payment arrangement has been made to remit this fund
to you through diplomatic means of payment or Alternatively come in person
to any of our payment offices in Europe, America, Africa or Asia.
You are advised to furnish this office with your contact information to
enable us open up communication with you regarding the release of your
fund immediately.
Your Full Name
Your Complete Address
Name of City of Residence:
Date of Birth (Day / Month / Year):
mobile Number:
Occupation:
Thanks.
Yours Truly,
Mr. Ted Moore
Director: United Nation World Fund Discovery Management And Payment Bureau
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Anti-fraud resources:
