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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- nilanders06@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: STELLA UZRA <"www."@road.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: NICOLAS GANDERS <nilanders06@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2017 00:58:23 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT NOTICE
Dear beneficiary,
I am very happy to inform you that based on our commendation/instructions; Your Re-compensation Payment funds worth US$2,800,000.00.has been successfully accredited in your favor through BANK ATM CARD due to the impossibility of transferring the fund through the western union.The BANK ATM CARD is a unique and safer way of getting your whole fund without any hitches and its allows you to withdraw in any ATM Cash Point Machine Worldwide. We implore you to contact the Director of Audit to verify this from the Administrative Audit unit.
Note: Do disregard any email from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM CARD or COMPENSATION FUND as your fund is in our custody and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office for immediate investigation.
Bar. Nicolas Ganders,
Director int’l audit unit
Mail: nilanders06@gmail.com
RE-CONFIRM THIS URGENT REQUIRED INFORMATION TO THE ABOVE OFFICE:
(1) Your Full Name: ............
(2) Country Address: ...........
(3) Phone Number: ..............
Please Confirm the receipt of this last notification.
Regard,
Stella Uzra.
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Anti-fraud resources:
