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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:
- "million united state 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (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 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.
- +447035900387 (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.
- groupdirectoroffice@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. David Roberts" <infodavidpin@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: groupdirectoroffice1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:03:06 -0400
Subject: Reply It's Urgent
From: Mr. David Roberts.
Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via E-mail.
In my banking department I discovered an abandoned sum worth of
$25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million United State Dollars Only) in an
account that belongs to one of our customers who unfortunately lost
his life with his entire family on plane crash since 2002. Since his
death, I have been expecting his next of kin or relatives to come
over and claim his funds because we cannot release it unless somebody
applies for it as Next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated
in our banking procedure. I want you to come in as the Next Of Kin,
all needed cooperation to make the claims will be given to you by me.
If you are interested kindly let me have your full contact details and
I will give you more details.
I will give you 45% of the total sum for your sincere cooperation. We
will discuss much in details when I receive your response.
If you are willing to cooperate in this project reply back to me as
soon as possible: PRIVATE EMAIL:groupdirectoroffice@yahoo.co.uk
Waiting for your response.
Mr. David Roberts.
Mobile: +447035900387
Group Director
Lloyds Banking Group United Kingdom
www.lloydsbankinggroup.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
