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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)
- "vicepencemike@outlook.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.
Fraud email example:
From: " MR.MIKEPENCE" <"w.w.w."@eos.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: " MR.MIKEPENCE" <vicepencemike@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2017 20:56:50 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GREETINGS TO YOU DEAREST !
GREETINGS TO YOU DEAREST !
I am Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States and this is to inform
you about your Bank Check Draft brought back by the United Embassy from the
government of Benin Republic in the white house Washington DC as your
compensation fund been mandated to be deliver to your home address ,To avoid
wrong delivery of your check draft worth Ten million united states dollars (
10.000.000,00 Million) Kindly reconfirm to me the below data
1. Your FullNames..................
2. Your Residential Address ......................
3. Your Mobile Cell Number.......................
Contact Email Address: vicepencemike@outlook.com
Contact Cell Phone-Number(516) 387-5982
YOURS SINCERELY,MR MIKE PENCE
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
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Anti-fraud resources:
