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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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED NATION COMPENSATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claim_department04@qq.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:48:19 -0500
Subject: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Dear Beneficiary,
Congratulation, your email has just been selected as one of the beneficiary of the UN Humanitarian Development Cash Grant program to enhance and develop the standard of living geared towards poverty eradication as targeted by the year 2020.You have been granted the sum of $2.5million dollars. your grant pin #UNF/FBF-816-1119 G-900-94. Please note that this fund would be made available to you via ikobo atm visa card.
Contact payment department for the delivery of your ikobo ATM visa card.
Payment Officer : Mr Dennis Kallman
E-mail:
You are to provide him your information below for claims.
1 Full Names:
2 Full Address:
3 Nationality:
4 Age:
5 Gender:
6 Occupation:
7 Cell Phone:
8 Present Country:
9 Alternate Email Address:
Regards,
Mrs. Carlton Joan.
Chairman UNDP Grant Programme
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Anti-fraud resources:
