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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 state 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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- imfoffice344@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Gene Leon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imfoffice344@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 23:28:23 +0300
Subject: Scam Victim Compensation fund
Dear Beneficary
This is to officially inform you that an ATM Card that worth USD
$1.5 million united state dollars has been issued as a
compensation payment for all the short listed 2011/2013/14/15 scam victims
whose email address was recovered during the recent internet probing and
investigation process.
Your email address was found among the list so we are in no doubt believed
that those syndicates must have collect money from you through their dubious
criminal ways.It was on these very recommendation that the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) United state of america in conjunction with the United
State Government after series of meeting held came up with a sanction to all
West African countries to compensate all the foreign victims with a payment
benefit of USD$1.5 million each in order to restore the Global Economy to the
enviable standard of respectability.
Please note that upon receipt of your response we will process and send you
ATM Card Payment and you will use it to withdraw your money in any ATM
machine in any part of the world, so if you like to receive your fund,
contact the director in charge of the compensation payment at INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND SETTLEMENT CENTER Mrs Zainab Halidu on her email address:
(imfoffice344@gmail.com) and also send him the following information;
1. Full Name:
2. Phone Number:
3. Mailing Address:
4. Age and Sex:
5. Occupation:
If you need an urgent attention please call Mrs Zainab Halidu her
direct-Telephone (+2348088690896) Your immediate compliance to this will
expedite actions on your Payment because here in this office we have a lot
of listed victims to be settled.
AND IF YOU WANT FUND TO BE TRANSFER TO YOU VIA ONLINE BANK WE WILL DIRECT
YOU TO OUR ONLINE BANK
Mr Gene Leon
I.M.F COMPENSATION OFFICE
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Anti-fraud resources:
