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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:
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "tomssmith.smith@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "tomssmith.smith@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "CHIEF JUSTICE" <xx@yy>
Reply-To: tomssmith.smith@yandex.com
Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2016 15:57:23 -0500
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED
MY DEAR VALUED,
I 'M CONTACTING YOU NOW BASE ON ISSUE IN MY OFFICE THIS MORNING BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT FILE WHICH CONTAINS YOUR 4.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY A STAFF FROM THE BANK OF AMERICA HERE IN BENIN REPUBLIC WHO ORDERED ME TO SIGN THE CANCELLATION OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE AND I ASKED HIM WHY AND HE SAID THAT YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED AND ALWAYS INSULTING HIM BECAUSE THEY TOLD YOU TO PAY $50 DOLLARS TO PROCCESS THE DOCEMENT AND APPROVAL FROM THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS.
SO I DECIDED TO WRITE YOU BECAUSE I FOLLOWED THE LAW AND I WILL NOT BE AGAINST ANYBODY IN THIS WORLD AND I THINK THAT MAYBE HE HAS A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH YOU.
I HAVE NOT TOUCHED YOUR PAYMENT FILE UNTIL I RECIEVE A CONFIRMATION FROM YOU THIS MORNING BECAUSE I HAVE HUMAN SYMPATHY.
SO MY DEAR I NEED TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW, DO YOU STILL NEED TO RECEIVE YOUR WININING/INHERITANCE FUND IF SO CONTACT ME NOW SO THAT I CAN DIRECT YOU ON HOW TO SEND THE $50 TO PROCCESS THE DOCUMENT AND APPROVAL FROM THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS NOW.
YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED VIA THIS EMAIL ( tomssmith.smith@yandex.com )ALSO INCLUDE YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER.FULL NAME AND NEW ADDRESS FOR ME TO RE CONFIRM AND UPDATE MY FILE.
THANKS,
CHIEF JUSTICE TOM SMITH
TELEPHONE +229 679 81955
EMAIL: tomssmith.smith@yandex.com
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