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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- westbrown555@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. West Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westbrown555@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:17:43 +0700
Subject: Your Compensation payment is Ready!!
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY COMMITTEES,
OVERDUE COMPENSATION DEPARTMENT,
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
DELIVERY AND TRANSFERS.
DEBT RECONCILIATION/AUDIT UNIT
UNITED NATIONS REGIONAL OFFICE
JAKARTA, INDONESIA
YOUR REF: IND/JK/UN/XXXL9 UNITED NATIONS.
Attn:
Dear beneficiary,
On behalf of the board and management of International Monetary Committees (IMC). Jakarta. I the Operations Manager of overdue compensation payment department wishes to inform you that your compensation funds is due for immediate collection. Be informed that we have concluded all arrangements to release your compensation money to you through a secure bank to bank wire transfer/ or a certified cashier's check. In line with the binding international funds transfer policies, kindly reconfirm to us the following details:
1. Full Name:............?
2. Home Address:.........?
3. Home/Cell Phone:......?
4. Age/Gender:...........?
5. Occupation:...........?
We urge you to treat the above requirement with utmost urgency to enable us dispense our duties and obligation accordingly thereby allowing us to serve you in a timely fashion. Upon satisfactory receipt of all the above mentioned, you will be further acquainted with the detailed release itinerary.
Get back to me on this email westbrown555@yahoo.com.hk
Thank you.
Yours in service
West Brown
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