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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:
- "account opening" (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. )
- "to your nominated 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Smith Kendler <smithkendler@yahoo.co.za>
Reply-To: kendlersmith@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 19:17:25 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: SEAKING YOUR ASISTANCE AND PATNERSHIP?
Dear Sir/CEO
This morning we got an information that a late customer (Mr. Chung Timothy)account will be closed and the funds in it will be confiscated by the bank if the customer next of kin does not come up to make claim for the funds which is 15.5miilion united states dollars.
Hence, I decided to contact you to seek for your assistance and partnership? My name is Mr. Smith Kendler, I was the Late Mr.Chung Timothy account officer, and I have all the account information and his secret account opening details that might be needed from you by the bank in order to establish the fact that you are the next of kin if you agree to work with me.
I will give you the details of the said account and the transfer process with the believe that you would not betray me after the funds has being transferred into your nominated account.
I have mapped out all modalities for a successful transfer of the fund into your nominated account.
As soon as I receive your response we shall discuss disbursement percentage.
In acceptance of this offer, kindly maintain the confidentiality aspect of this transaction. If you are interested to assist and partner with me, kindly send me a reply urgently so we can proceed with the swift process of transferring the fund to your nominated bank account immediately.
Regards,
Mr. Smith Kendler
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