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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:
- "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: RB RB <rb9064rb@outlook.com>
Reply-To: rb9064rb@mail.com
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 18:55:40 -0300
Subject: Attention
Attention,
I am a private investor based in West Columbia (South Carolina, USA). A
group of government officials from South Africa contacted me with an offer.
I am to solicit and state their offer; if your interest is genuine. Youll be
made the receiver of a very huge sum of money and it will be transferred to
any of your choice. A high compensation of 20% awaits you. The remaining
balances (minus the interest, handling and tax clearance charges, which will
be offset by us and deducted from the transfer sum) to a nominated bank
account in Europe or your Country.
I dont think I need to spell out the importance of secrecy in this matter
considering what is involved. Let me state clearly here that the account you
will be providing does not need to have funds in it; it is only needed to be
active and be able to receive the funds in question.
I need your quick response to this mail to indicate your intent, by
forwarding your details to me. This is important as we would need to talk
and have a meeting to discuss the modalities of this offer.
Yours sincerely,
RB
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Anti-fraud resources:
