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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:
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- investigationdepartment@legislator.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Investigation Department" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bar_association@europe.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2017 12:06:12 +0200
Subject: Payment Refund
Good Day,
We are writing you from the office of the European anti-fraud/internet scam and money laundry, Investigative department of Europol to inform you that we have commenced an investigation into the alleged fraud.
After the investigation by the Investigation Department, we discovered that you make some payment
of some amount of money and you never receive any fund. According to the Art.254 Sec.14.7 of 1996 of the laws the agent has the sole right to transfer such a fund to the beneficiary whom the criminal act carried out in this process was the subsequent payment made by the beneficiary, which is against the laws of sect. 247.14 of Art 261 of 1996.
During these processes the total amount has to be returned.
As mentioned above we are having a date in court by Nest week for the hearing/Proceeding into the case,
for this reason you are advise to send the payment receipt as a proof to present in the court for your refund. Contact us with the contact Information below E-mail investigationdepartment@legislator.com
Do not hesitate to reply me should there be any questions
Hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
Don.Varquero Gomez Dominguez.
(M.E.H. Director)
Tel/Fax:+34-611-213-069
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Anti-fraud resources:
