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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 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 dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Williams Wallace <andben951@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wwallace646@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2017 10:55:11 +0100
Subject: Inheritance Beneficiary communication Mgr.
ATTENTION: DEAR BENEFICIARY
How are you doing today?, I am Mr. William Wallace the inheritance
beneficiary communication manager of TD insurance company here in USA,
we have been trying to contact you for six month now after the death
of Mr. Wilson who insured all his wealth worth $63.8 million United
state dollars to you as his only trusted relation and found it very
difficult because the number he gave us to reach you is not going
through and the email we miss typed it, but we are able to get your
correct email through the help of your country government.
You are highly and respectfully advised to get back to us immediately
with your complete details for onward payment of your inheritance such
as.
Your Full Name:..................
Your account number.................
Your Occupation:................
Residential Address:.............
Direct Telephone Number:.........
Nearest airport:.................
Copy of driving license or any valid identification Card:...........
Nationality:.................
City:......................... .
NOTE: If you do not forward your data information to this email address:
your fund will not be transferred into your account, So forward your
data information to this email address immediately:
God Bless You
Kind Regards
Mr. William Wallace
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Anti-fraud resources: