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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:
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Jacob BenjaminE <jacobenjamin69@outlook.com>
Reply-To: ws595737@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2017 22:29:48 -0700
Subject: Personal Assistant and Administrative officer needed
Hello,
Hope this email finds you well and in good health. I'm reaching out to
inform you that SILVER-LAKE Financial Consultants LCC, which I am a Senior
Consultant to, requires immediate services of an efficient
Individual/Company Representative in your area & region.
This is a job opportunity from home with benefit of 5 weeks vacation
which will be sponsored by SILVER-LAKE Financial Consultants LCC. You will
be entitled to a $4,000.00 USD monthly salary and 5% commission on each
transaction you manage to complete. If interested please kindly reply back
for more info and full job description and any other question you need
clarification with.
Regards,
Jacob Benjamin
Silver-Lake Consultant
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Anti-fraud resources:
