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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Larry William" <larrywillam1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: larywilliam1@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2016 16:36:02 +0300
Subject: REPLY ME
Attn:
Re : Payment notification for last
quarter 2016
I write to inform you that your file have been approved by the United
Nations board of directors for prompt release of your long awaiting via
DIRECT PAYMENT SYSTEM .The Sun Trust Bank,NY USA will setup an account for
you and send you the transfer instructions to enable you complete your
transfer into your nominated bank account without any charges. You are
advised to reconfirm the following information:
Full name
Full address
Phone/Mobile phone number
As soon as the above information is received,I will summit your file to
the SUN TRUST BANK USA for immediate processing and release of your fund
within 72 hours.Reply back as urgent as possible for more information in
details.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Larry William
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Anti-fraud resources:
