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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- rev.stevegrant111@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "REV. STEVE GRANT" <seedsnt@amh.linuxhk.com>
Reply-To: "REV. STEVE GRANT" <unitednation3e@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 03:15:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND US$10M ONLY VIA ATM VISA CARD
>From the Desk of
REV. STEVE GRANT
PAYING BANKERS
Direct Private: rev.stevegrant111@yahoo.com
SWIFT CREDIT CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM
Attn: ATM Card beneficiary
I am REV. STEVE GRANT, a World Bank representative in Nigeria/Benin Republic, going by series of petition received from International Body on the way your inheritance fund was handled by our correspondence office .After Extensive close door meeting with Board of Directors and other Stake holders in the Government,
Subcommittees of the House Of Assembly and the House of Rep , Federal Republic of Nigeria/ Federal Republic of Benin to issue you an SWIFT CREDIT CARD which you will use to withdraw your fund.
The SWIFT CREDIT CARD would be delivered to you via Courier. In the light of this aforementioned, you are required to furnish this office with the following information if different from the one we have above.
Your Full Name:
Your Full Address:
You’re Occupation:
Your telephone number and fax:
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Anti-fraud resources:
