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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:
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- accountant.officer@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Paul Ibezim" <yanzka@svitonline.com>
Reply-To: accountant.officer@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 06:19:31 -0700
Subject: Urgent Respond
--
Congratulations!!!!
This is to Inform you that your Name and Details were forwarded to us
from the office of the Presidential Task
Force on Foreign Debt Payment regarding Your Lottery, Contract,
Inheritance/Compensation Payment Valued at
$5.500,000.00 (US$5.5m). It have been Approved for Immediate Payment
either by Swift Wire Transfer OR ATM Credit
Card Delivery to your Home Address OR Online Payment OR Diplomatic Cash
Delivery to your Country. Please Choose
Your Choice/Method of Payment & Re-confirm the following, Your full
details for us asap
1) Your: Full Name===================
2) Your: Full Address================
3) Your: contact telephone and fax number;=====
4) Your: Age and Profession;=========
5) Your:Copy of any valid form of your Identification;===
6) Your:Marital status===========
Contact person Dr Paul Ibezim
Email: accountant.officer@yahoo.com
please call or text for any question: phone:- +22968717672
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
TREAT AS URGENT.
Dr. Paul Ibezim
(Head, Funds Release Supervisor)
United Bank for Africa UBA Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
