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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:
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "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)
- "info@zenith-bnking-uk.co.cc" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +447024019508 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447005982796 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Udom Emmanuel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithemail1@blumail.org>
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 06:59:31 -0800
Subject: OUR NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO YOU
FINANCE DIRECTOR
ZENITH BANK OF LONDON
LONDON-UNITED KINGDOM
TELEPHONE: +447024019508
TEL/FAX: +44-7005-982-796
Attn: Dear Fund Beneficiary
This mail is reaching you now based on the Economic Bilateral Agreement signed between the United States of America, The European Union "EU" and that of African Union "AU" to settle all outstanding payments owed to foreign beneficiaries by our Bank for 2011 fiscal year.
It is important for you know that a substantial amount has been earmarked to settle you and others with similiar cases from this Bank. This step was taken due to the gravity of fraudulent activities witnessed from various External Debt payment Bodies "EDPB" and other financial Institutions and coupled with the year 2011 budget and fiscal plan.
As soon as you receive this payment notification, get back to us for more details on how your outstanding funds with us will be transferred into your bank account between now and the next 3 weeks.
Thanks,
Yours faithfully,
Email:info@zenith-bnking-uk.co.cc
Mr. Udom Emmanuel
Zenith Bank London
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