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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Bangkok B. Thailand" <claims@sangthai.co.th>
Reply-To: swiftremittancebangkok@yandex.com
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 11:31:21 +0100
Subject: Reply Accordingly
RE:FUNDS TRANSFER NOTIFICATION.
OUR BANK HAVE RECEIVED INSTRUCTION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS
AND THE WORLD BANK AUTHORITIES FOR THE SWIFT TRANSFER OF YOUR PENDING
FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS.
WE HAVE BEEN MANDATED TO CARRY OUT THE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS DIRECTLY
INTO YOUR ACCOUNTS IN YOUR COUNTRY WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS.
REPLY IMMEDIATELY FOR MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING YOUR FUNDS AND THE
TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT.
WE AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
RESPECTFULLY,
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
BANGKOK BANK THAILAND.
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Anti-fraud resources:
