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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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- infodesk1@financier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ian Ranking" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infodesk1@financier.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 16:42:19 -0800
Subject: ATM CARD
I am Mr.Ian Ranking Bill and Exchange Manager,Head of the World Bank Finance Group and Interpol London
Branch, set up to fight against Scam,Financial Crimes and Fraudulent activities worldwide.
This Group is responsible for investigating the legitimacy of unpaid contract, inheritance and lotto winning claims
by companies and individuals and directs the paying authorities (Fiduciary Agents) worldwide to make immediate
payment of verified claims to the beneficiaries without further delay.
You are being legally contacted regarding the release of your long awaited fund. After a detailed review of
your file, the World Bank Group has mandated that your fund should be release immediately.
This is to officially inform you that an ATM CARD worth (Six Million Three Hundred United States Dollars)
($6.3MILLION USD) has been accredited in your favour.Your Personal Identification Number is 2911.
Please immediately contact our appointed Fiduciary Agent below for the release of your ATM CARD.
Name:Dr.Paul Blair
Company:Global Financier Ltd
Email: infodesk1@financier.com
Please re-confirm to us the following:
FULL NAME:
COUNTRY:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
AGE:
TELEPHONE:
OCCUPATION:
SEX/GENDER:
PASSPORT COPY:
Thanks for Your Cooperation.
Mr.Ian Ranking
(Bill and Exchange Manager)
World Bank Group. London U.K
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Anti-fraud resources:
