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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:
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "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)
- "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.
- +447012917133 (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.
- natwestbankplc85@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "NATWEST BANK PLC"<user@seed.net.tw>
Reply-To: <natwestbankplc85@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 13:28:52 -0700
Subject: REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (US$22Million)
FROM THE MANAGEMENT
OF NATWEST BANK
WESTMINSTER
57 VICTORIA STREET
GB - LONDON SW1H 0HP
TEL:+447012917133
FAX:+447005961045
REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (US$22Million)
This is to notify you about this said fund.
After due verification and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by the Nigeria Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This bank received an instruction to see to the immediate release of the sum of TWENTY-TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$22Million) of your claim that has been holding since it was transferred into your bank Account from their domiciliary Account with this Bank.
We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence from anywhere concerning your funds. We know your representatives in Nigeria or anywhere will advise you to still go ahead with them, which will be on your own risk.
Your TWENTY-TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$22Million) will reflect in your designated Bank account within three Bank working days.
Do not go through anybody again but through this Bank if you really want your fund. Finally, you are advised to re-confirm these to us.
Your Full name:
Your contact Address:
Occupation:
Age:
Telephone:
We advise that you get back to us with your details on this email:natwestbankplc85@gmail.com
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Stephen Hester
Chief Executive,
Natwest Bank London,
United Kingdom.
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