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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- 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.
- +447035930280 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- rensburgv@yahoo.ca (Yahoo, Canada; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- financial intelligence center tel: +44-7035-930-280 email: rensburgv@yahoo.ca. financialintelligencecentre@aim.com facilitate him, with (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED KINGDOM CLEARING AGENCY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lioydsclearingservicelondon@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 21:23:02 +0200
Subject: RE: YOUR PAYMENT INFORMATION
MY DEAR FRIEND,
HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY? WE ARE PLEASE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT OUR SUCCESS IN GETTING YOUR COMPENSATION FEES AS DIRECTED.
MEANWHILE WE HAVE CLEARED THE FUND AND AS AGREED THAT A COMPENSATION FEES AMOUNT SHOULD BE PAID AS PART OF AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK, INTERNATIONAL MONITORY FUND AND AFRICAN UNION TOGETHER WITH THEIR HEADS OF STATE OVER THE UNCLEARED ABANDON FUNDS.
MEANWHILE, WE ARE MANDATED TO CLEAR THE FUNDS AND PAY THE BENEFICIARY A COMPENSATION FEES TO COVER THEIR EXPENSES DURING THE COST OF THEIR TRANSACTION. ALL OUR ATTEMPTS TO REACH YOU ON CELL PHONE WERE ABORTIVE.
WE THEREFORE REQUESTED THAT YOU CONTACT THE PERSON UNDER LISTED FOR YOUR PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.
NAME: MR. RENSBURG VAN CRAYFORD
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER
Tel: +44-7035-930-280
Email: rensburgv@yahoo.ca.
financialintelligencecentre@aim.com
FACILITATE HIM, WITH YOUR FULL DETAILS TO RELEASE PAYMENT SUM OF $1 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH HAS BEEN GRANT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION ALSO YOUR FINANCIAL EXPENDITURE IN THE MATTERS PAST. MR RENSBURG CRAYFORD, WILL ADVICE YOU & THE BANK TO EFFECT IMMEDIATE PAYMENT INTO YOU.
REGARDS
LIOYDS CLEARING SERVICE LONDON
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Anti-fraud resources:
