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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- pjconsult4@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "International Fund Reconciliation Committee." <ifrc@imf.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2013 09:08:23 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: Last quarter of the year
Attn: Beneficiary.
Re: Contract/Inheritance Payment.
This is to inform you that the International Fund Reconciliation Committee
under International Monetary Fund(IMF) has decided to release all
Contract/Inheritance funds to their beneficiaries this last quarter of the
year 2013.
We wish to inform you that you will be receiving your fund through our
correspondent bank in Nigeria.
We advise contact our our payment officer on his mobile number by call or
text message (SMS) for security purpose.
Name: Mr. Ben Anderson
Number: +2347062841061
Email: pjconsult4@gmail.com
We thank you for your anticipated corporation.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Maria Tee
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This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by Agni Systems, and is
believed to be clean.
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Anti-fraud resources:
