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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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: "MR.JOHN AKALA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.johnakala@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2015 23:11:09 +0100
Subject: DID YOU AUTHORIZED (MR. WINFRED HERBRUGER LEMUS) TO CLAIM YOUR FUND U.S. $ 1.5MILLION?
Dear Valued Customer.
DID YOU AUTHORIZED (MR. WINFRED HERBRUGER LEMUS) TO CLAIM YOUR FUND U.S. $ 1.5MILLION?
Following the ongoing review of your funds transfer schedule for your Government compensation payment amount of U.S. $1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars). We did Received an application from one (MR. Winfred HERBRUGER Lemus). of Republic Of Guatemala, Central America. Requesting for a change in the Beneficiary contact information and Designated bank account.
Please confirm this information urgently. Did you ask (Mr. Winfred Herbruger Lemus). to claim your Fund U.S $1.5Million? As a matter of urgency get back to us within 24Hours before things go wrong. Because (MR. WINFRED HERBRUGER LEMUS). Have presented a "Power of Attorney" duly signed by you in which it was clearly stated that due to some inevitable circumstances beyond your control that you will not be able to claim your Compensation Payment yourself, thus appointing him to act on your behalf ?
If proved otherwise by you that you are not, please forward to us below information so that we will transfer your fund to you.
1.Your full name
2.Your direct telephone number
3.Your Home address
4.your account information
We regret any delay to your funds transfer and the inconveniences this must has cost you in the past and also sympathize with you on this present situation.
We do await your positive response.Kindly call me now as soon as you receive this mail +2348064200066
Thanks.
MR. JOHN AKALA
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