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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:
- "cost of transfer" (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: WELLS FARGO BANK <britishhighcommissionoffice201@gmail.com>
Reply-To: WELLS FARGO BANK <wellfargobnk909@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2017 17:26:12 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention is needed,
Wells Fargo Bank
435 CLEVELAND BLVD
Idaho 84505.
United States
Attention is needed,
Greetings from the Wells Fargo bank. I have a vital information which needs to be attended immediately. Did you authorized anyone to pick up your inheritance fund from our branch in Cleveland Caldwell Idaho? One Mr Andrew Cox came to our office yesterday in-respect of your $8.5 million dollars which has been credited with us for the past 2 years now by the Federal Government to be transferred into your account. He said that you authorized him to pick up the fund.
This fund has been in our custody for the past two years now and we have been waiting for you to contact us but we didn't know what is hindering you from reaching us since. So we decided to write to you to make sure that you are fine and aware of the inheritance fund of $8.5 million dollars in our branch office in Caldwell Idaho.
We want you to get back to us with the following details:
Full Name:
Address:
Phone number:
This above listed details are needed as fast as possible if you didn't authorize anyone to pick up your fund from our branch in Idaho.
We have 3 means which you can use to receive your fund and you are to choose the suitable option for you. Here are the options:
(1) Bank to Bank wire transfer: It will take only 24 hours for you to receive your fund into your preferred account. The cost of transfer charge is $450.
(2) Credit Card delivery: It will take 48 hours for you to receive your credit card with the $8.5 million dollar inside the credit card. The maximum amount you can withdraw daily is $5000. The delivery fee is $250.
(3) Consignment box delivery: Your fund will be sealed in a box without anyone knowing what is inside it and it will be delivered to your house in cash. It will take 3 working days to be delivered to your house. This will cost $350.
The above mentioned options are the medium which you can use to receive your fund safely. Endeavor to get back to us as fast as you can with your details and suitable option if you didn't authorize anyone to pick up your fund in our branch. Your urgent attention are needed to enable s proceed with the transaction as your fund is ready for delivery.
Thank you.
Dr Timothy J. Sloan
General manager
Wells Fargo bank
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Anti-fraud resources:
