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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:
- "your payment is being processed" (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 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.
- jimmohamed326@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: NOTIFICATION FOR YOUR PAYMENT!! <m.zarebski@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: jimmohamed326@sify.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:18:38 +0800
Subject: NOTIFICATION FOR YOUR PAYMENT!!
NOTIFICATION FOR YOUR PAYMENT!!
Note: stop any processing with any office or bank to avoid loosing your fund.
We are pleased to inform you that We are World Debt Reconciliation
Committee newly set up by The International Bank For Reconciliation
And Development (WORLD BANK) And the International Monetary Fund(IMF).
Based on series of complains received from International Bodies such
as Cooperate Bodies and Non Governmental Organization (NGO) on the
Inability of some Government of different countries in the World,
Commercial banks and World Organization, to settle their
clients Contract debt, inheritance Fund and Winning fund.
Your name and email was discovered as next on the list of the
Outstanding files that are mandated to receive the compensation
Payment without delay. Did you send any body to claim your fund?
We wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
Released to you as soon as you respond to this notification.
You are now advised to contact Jim MMohamed (jimmohamed326@sify.com)
For the commencement of your compensation payment with all this
Requirements below for immediate payment:
1.Full names .2.address.3.telephone number.4.Ammount
involved,.5.Position in work.6.Occupation 7.Name of work.8.Fax
number.9.Country of fund origin 10.Age
As soon as this informations are received, We give you further
directives on how your fund will remitted to you. Kindly get back to
us as soon as you receive this mail to enable us proceed immediately
and advice you on what to do.
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Anti-fraud resources:
