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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- postbus.alliance@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Stella Ibe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <postbus.alliance@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 05:56:07 -0700
Subject: Contact the verification officer
ATTN:FUND BENEFICIARY.
This is to officially inform you that ATM card number: 5428 0500 1100 4432 worth Five Million Five hundred thausand Dollars ($5.5Million usd) has been credited in your favor in bid to compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our inheritance file for the second part of this fiscal Year 2010. Your personal identification is ATM-5379. Contact the verification officer (Mr.Jonathan Abams)on:+234 8032204837 E-mail(postbus.alliance@yahoo.com.hk) with the following for proper verification and claim processing:
Full Name................
Delivery Address.........
Country..................
Occupation...............
Phone Number.............
Fax Number...............
Age......................
sex......................
NOTE: You are also required to send to the verification officer/agent a means of Identification which should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport for proper verification and authentication.
Best Regards
Mrs.Stella Ibe
STATE PAYMENT COMMITTEE
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Anti-fraud resources:
