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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- +447031970639 (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.
- acctsdept@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED NATION ACCT DEPT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Unitednationdept@mailbox.hu>
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 00:30:06 +0100
Subject: UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION PAYMENT APPROVAL!
Dear Sir/Madam,
Your name is among those who have not received their compensation,
after a series of complaints from the FBI and other security agencies
from different continents against Africa / Russia in terms of scam
activities going on in this world, we have agreed with the U.S. government
that US $1 million will be paid to you through ATM CARD.
Also you are required to forward to us your full information.
Your Full Names
Your Contact Address
Your Personal Phone Number
Your Identification
Please contact Dr. James Walker, for more guidelines to follow.
Dr. James Walker
UNITED NATIONS
Legal Department of United Nation
Regional Office United Kingdom
Telephone: +447031970639
E-mail: acctsdept@consultant.com
sincerely,
Ms. Sandra Michel
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Anti-fraud resources:
