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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: info@lee.com
Reply-To: tavittonmcquires@hotmail.com
Date: 03 May 2017 05:59:04 +0200
Subject: Owner/Fund Beneficiary
Owner/Fund Beneficiary
The sum of $4.6 million. out of your over due total sum has been
approved for payment through ATM cash card system after all
attempts to pay you through bank, and diplomatic courier failed.
I am glad to send you this email to notify you concerning your
ATM CARD which is in our custody for the past few months. We
want you to understand that the delivery fees is being paid by
the authorities and what you need to do now is to contact us
immediately so that the delivery will commence to your door step
as soon as possible.
Note that you are to pay for the safe security keeping fees of
your ATM CARD which is just $250 Dollars only so that immediately
infect will take place for the delivery of your ATM CARD .
If you know you won't be able to pay for the safe security
keeping fee of your ATM CARD please do not respond back to this
email.
Please i repeat myself again if you know that you will not be
able to pay for the safe security keeping of your ATM CARD which
is just $250 please i beg you not to respond to this email
because it will not help.
Do fill this information and get back to us ASP You received this
message.
Reconfirm your mailing address.
===============================================
Full Name:.........
Sex:...................
Mailing Address:..........
Personal Phone Number...........
Occupation:..................
Thanks for your understanding.
Sincerely,
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
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Anti-fraud resources:
