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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "foreign payment unit" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Foreign Payment Unit <centraltoolacct6161@gmail.com>
Reply-To: cbnforeignpayment@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2017 20:47:50 +0100
Subject: DID YOU APPROVE THIS PAYMENT
*Mrs. Okolie Doris*
*Foreign Payment Unit*
*Central Bank Nigeria.*
*TELEFAX: 234 01-4710807*
*Tel: + 234-813-139-3321.*
*CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY*
*In Our office Today Was a Presence of One Mr. John T. Kehoe of 122 Fitch*
*Way, Sacramento, Ca. 95864 filing application contrary to your pending*
*fund transfer.*
*The above mentioned person visited this Bank on Friday with a power of*
*attorney given in his favor by your good self, granting him the benefit to*
*process and claims your inheritance/Contract approved part-payment of*
*US$10.5 Million (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars*
*Only) for personal reasons.*
*He further Stated that the online account be Terminated while the fund*
*should be wired to his Bank account with Bank Of America, Routing Number*
*121000358.Our office have ask Mr. John T. Kehoe return back to the Bank*
*today to enable us have a personal confirmation from you being hitherto*
*the beneficiary.*
*We are sorry to have delayed your instruction in giving out this fund*
*since we must adhere to the modus operandi of this honorable bank by*
*making sure this request is verified and confirmed by the beneficiary and*
*his existing attorney.*
*Your confirmation to the above will be appreciated. We look forward to*
*hearing from you soon.*
*A.s.a.p*
*Thanks and God Bless,*
*Mrs. Okolie Doris.*
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