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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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)
- 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.
- info.ubaban@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs zainab Mehira." <iddo.transit022@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.ubaban@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2017 00:15:41 +0100
Subject: Congratulations Beneficiary.
Hello Dear Friend,
Compliment of the season,how are you doing and your family.
This is to bring to your notice that I have finally made arrangement
with the issuing bank that will transfer your total fund sum of
US$10.500,000.00 from the head office BENIN REPUBLIC to your nominated
bank account without further delay.
You will receive your fund through online wire transfer as implies by
the management to avoid further delay, below is the contact
information of the bank. Contact them as soon as you can so they will
instruct you further on how to receive your fund.
Bank Director:..Dr Madibe Nbongo
Bank Name:...United Bank For Africa
Bank E Mail:... info.ubaban@gmail.com
Bank Tel:....+229-9925 1086
Do let me know once you contact them so you will receive your funds
without further delay.
Thanks and Remind bless
Mrs zainab Mehira
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Anti-fraud resources:
