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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:
- "into your nominated 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 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)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Paul Barnett" <fxswap@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: "Dr. Paul Barnett" <jsppaul@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 04:42:14 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Urgent
 Sir,
                  RE: OVER DUE CONTRACT AND INHERITANCE PAYMENT.
After due consultation with the United Nations and the International Monetary Funds in respect of your overdue outstanding payment, we have been directed to immediately commence the process of releasing Nine Million United States Dollars out of your total payment into your nominated bank account.
The World Bank Mr. Jim Yong Kim emphatically regretted that you have been swindled and warned that on no condition should you disclose this present dealings with anybody if you really want your payment to be credited into your bank account as instructed. You are hereby advised to reconfirm your detail information to us, upon the receipt of the requested information, a credit authorization will be dispatch to Federal Reserve Bank for onward credit of funds into your bank account.
A. Full Name:
B. Full Address:
C. Cell Phone Number:
D. Your International Passport or Driver's License
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Paul Barnett
International Monetary Fund
Tel:+234-909-782-6036
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Anti-fraud resources:
