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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Collins Murray" <info@seguridadorion.com>
Reply-To: cmfsa2014@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 06:44:03 -0500
Subject: REMINDER: YOUR FUND TRANSFER VIA S.A RESERVE BANK.
Date: 10th March, 2015.
FROM MR. COLLINS MURRAY.
HEAD OF FINANCIAL SERVICE AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION AND SETTLEMENT TEAM, UK.
RE: File Number: FSAIST/L-UK/US/0024/13.
I am glad to inform you that we have now decided to effect the payment of
your fund through South African Reserve bank.
An arrangement has been made for you to receive your outstanding fund
through the Reserve bank of your country, South Africa through electronic
transfer since you reside in South Africa. This decision was taken because
of the high cost involved in transferring fund from Europe to Africa and
the high risk associated with delivering it in cash through diplomatic
means.
It may interest you to know that we have successfully concluded
arrangements with Reserve bank of South Africa to transfer your fund to
you through electronic transfer. This arrangement was made for easy
transfer of your fund to your bank account over there in South Africa.
We have already moved your payment file to the appropriate department of
Reserve bank of South Africa and you will be directed on how to contact
the bank as soon as you indicate your readiness to receive your fund
through them.
You are hereby advised to confirm your readiness to receive your fund
through Reserve bank of South Africa, so that we shall send you the
contact details of the deputy governor of Reserve bank of South Africa to
enable you contact him for your fund transfer.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Mr. Collins Murray.
HEAD OF FINANCIAL SERVICE AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION AND SETTLEMENT TEAM, UK.
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Anti-fraud resources:
