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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Kwesi Botang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revbotang21@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:59:41 -0000
Subject: Did You Authrise The Change Of Your Account?
Attn:
I am Rev. Kwesi Botang a Reverend of the Anglican Church of Christ Ghana, I am one of the Ten men committee formed by the new Government of President John R. Mahama of the Republic of Ghana on Foreign Payment Resolve Committee (P.R.C).
I am contacting you based on an application for change of account that was brought to my table today for me to endorse for your change of account.
Listed is the new company name and account details submitted by your local representatives for the immediate release of the sum of Two Million United States Dollars Part payment in your favor.
Name: Karl H. Franzen
Company: Franzen Constructions
Bank Details:
Bank: ABN-AMRO Bank N.V.
Swift No: ABNA NL 2A
Telex: 12212 or 12536
IBAN: NL 17ABNA
Branch: Venlo
Street: Keulsepoort 12
Town: NL - 5900 AA Venlo
Country: The Netherlands
Account No: 42.07.55.020
Account Holder: Karl H. Franzen
Account No.: 042075509242
Based on the fact that what i have on file listed as the beneficiary is your informations, i want to confirm if you authorized such change.
I will like that you do confirm back to me if the change of beneficiary and account details are correct so that i shall endorse for payment release to the new beneficiary.
Remain Blessed.
Rev. Kwesi Botang
Committee Chairman
+233261384973
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Anti-fraud resources:
