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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:
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "ms.tau@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "ms.tau@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ATM AWARD <dan@giant-elephant.com>
Reply-To: ms.tau@qq.com
Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 04:17:13 +0000
Subject: INTER-SWITCH ATM AWARD
--
This is to officially inform you that an Inter-Switch
ATM-Card Valued at
$500 000.00 USD has been accredited in your favor by
the Inter
Switch ATM Organization.Your Personal Identification
Number is ATM-8222.contact
MS Tau Jefferson (ms.tau@qq.com) with the following
information's;
FULL NAME: DELIVERY ADDRESS: MOBILE NUMBER: COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION: SEX: AGE:
This is to ensure that you receive your ATM-CARD grant
Award on time to avoid
delay.
Email: ms.tau@qq.com
Direct Office number :+233231482297
CC
Senator Miller Berebaum
Supported By :Gaming Commission of Ghana
Address: No. 5 Lagos Ave., East Legon
Postal address: PMB 195 KIA
City: Accra
Region: Greater Accra
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Anti-fraud resources:
