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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- davidellis009@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. David Ellis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidellis009@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 15:52:54 +0100
Subject: Re: Transfer Of Your Fund Via South African Reserve Bank
Date: 31st July 2015.
RE: File Number: FSAIST/L-UK/US/0024/12.
Sorry that I am contacting you this late. It is because we have been making arrangements for you to receive your fund through Reserve bank of South Africa by electronic transfer since you reside in South Africa
It may interest you to know that we have successfully concluded arrangements with Reserve bank of South Africa to pay you via electronic transfer to your designated bank account. This arrangement was made for easy transfer of your fund to your bank account over there in South Africa
We have already moved your payment file to the appropriate department of Reserve bank of South Africa and they will contact you as soon as you indicate your readiness for the transfer
You are hereby advised to confirm your readiness to receive your fund via Reserve bank of South Africa , so that we shall inform them to contact you for the transfer
Send your reply to my private email address: davidellis009@yahoo.co.jp
We await your urgent response.
Regards,
Mr. David Ellis.
HEAD OF FINANCIAL SERVICE AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION AND SETTLEMENT TEAM , UK
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Anti-fraud resources: