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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.
- 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.
- unitedbank02@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "unitedbank02@yahoo.com.hk" <info@labelkingdom.net>
Reply-To: unitedbank02@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:24:51 +0000
Subject: Attention our dear customer
Attention our dear customer:
We are happy to inform you that your US$1.5Million has been transferred to
our Washington Dc Bank for onward remittance into your bank account today. We
couldn't transfer the funds direct into your bank account due to President
Obama's new method of financial rules/regulations , His financial institution
ordered that any funds above $50,000.00 will be transferred to United Bank
Washington Dc for investigation before the final remittance into the
beneficiary's account.
The Washington Dc bank is the only bank was given authority to receive/handle
any legitimate transaction from over seas to the States.We heard that you have
spent some money in order to receive your funds which results nothing in
return, Now,You will receive your funds as soon as you contact this bank
today. Email the bank as soon as you receive this email.
I hereby direct you to contact United Bank through this information below.
UNITED BANK PLC
WASHINGTON DC.
E-mail : unitedbank02@yahoo.com.hk
They will complete the remittance of the funds into your Bank account today
once they hear from you. Congratulations once again.thank you for banking
with us.
Yours in service
Richard Westerfield
HSBC BANK CO-OPERATION
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Anti-fraud resources:
