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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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- 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.
- +447035967932 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. William David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <remittancedepartmentbarclaysbk007@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:11:32 +0100
Subject: Re: Hello....Truth of the Matter...
Dear Fund Beneficiary!
We are sorry for your presented predicament,although you should bear it in mind that Baclays Bank has no right to ask you to pay money in other to receive your outstanding payment presently with our suspense account here floating.It is just unfortunate that you before today fall into wrong people of Nigeria.However, you are advice to have it at the back of your mind that your predicament was as a result of your dealings with wrong people then!
Kindly re-confirm your information's both your Bank details to enable us verify from the original details earlier received from United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) and British Lottery Authority, in response to your mail dated to this Bank requesting for immediate release of your payment through Barclay's Bank England.
Moreover, let me create your indulgence that this Bank has complied with the irrevocable fund release order received from the United Nations Compensation Commission and Bank of England, to immediately complete your unpaid fund release processes without any delay as our primary responsibility to serve man kind.
Without missing words you are required to secure Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) from (BIRS) which is withholding the immediate release of your approved Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.Re- confirm your full details to enable us forward the contact information of British Inland Revenue Service to you for completion of this fund release to you.
Call me on Tel: +44-703-596-7932
Mr. William David
Atm Relation Director
Barclays Bank Plc-Foreign Operations Dept;
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Anti-fraud resources:
