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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Uzoma Kingsley." <vorholzer@att.net>
Reply-To: imfintmoneytryoffic@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 06:07:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Easter Is Near.
IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
INTER-CONTINENTAL DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT.
FROM THE DESK OF: HONORABLE MRS. UZOMA KINGSLEY . DIRECTOR; IMF World Regulatory Office.
ATTENTION:PROVISION OF AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM CERTIFICATE FOR LEGAL COVER/ PROTECTION OF US$15.5M IN FAVOR OF YOU
IT
IS TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE EASTER HOLIDAY AND THIS OFFICE HAS DEEMED IT
VERY NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT TO DO ALL IT MUST DO TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE
PAID YOUR LONG OVER DUE FUND OF $15.5 MILLION US DOLLARS.
TO THIS END WE HAVE TAKEN IT UPON OUR SELF TO REDUCE ALL REQUIRED
PAYMENT FOR
THE CLEARANCE AND AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR OVER DUE
TRANSFER WORTH $15.5 MILLION TO ONLY THE SUM OF $50 SO THAT YOU CAN
MEET UP WITH THE
PAYMENT SO THAT YOUR TRANSFER CAN BE EFFECTED AND RELEASED TO YOU INTO
ANY BANK ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE WHERE EVER IN THE WORLD THAT YOU CHOOSE.
PLEASE WE WANT TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO GET BACK TO US
IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL NOW SO THAT YOUR FUND TRANSFER
PROCESS CAN COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY AND BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE TIME FRAME
IN OTHER TO MAKE SURE YOUR FUND IS IN YOUR ACCOUNT ON OR BEFORE THE
EASTER HOLIDAY IN OTHER TO HELP AND SEE THAT YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY
HAVE THE BEST EASTER HOLIDAY EVER.
SO WE ADVICE YOU TO PAY THE $50
THROUGH THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER TO THE BELOW INFORMATION AND SEND THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO ME
RECEIVERS NAME: DERA IKE
RECEIVERS ADDRESS: CITY : LAGOS
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
SENDERS NAME:
SENDERS ADDRESS:
AMOUNT: $50
M.T.C.N NUMBER:
TEXT QUESTION: HAPPY
TEXT ANSWER: EASTER
WE
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE INDEED VERY VERY SORRY FOR ANY
INCONVENIENCES ANY DELAY THIS MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU IN HAVING YOUR FUND
PAID OUT TO YOU LONG BEFORE NOW.
YOU WILL
NEVER EVER REGRET PAYING THE FEE THIS IS A
PROMISE TO YOU AFTER ALL YOUR PAINS IN THE PAST AS WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU AS OUR WORD IS OUR BOND TO YOU.
YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO THIS E-MAIL NOW WILL GO A LONG
WAY IN HELPING US ENSURE YOUR PAYMENT IS RELEASED TO YOU WITHIN 24HOURS
OF YOU ACTING AS INSTRUCTED YOU NOW.
RESPOND BACK IMMEDIATELY.
MRS. UZOMA KINGSLEY.
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