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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Richard Howarth" <shang@online.sh.cn>
Reply-To: howarthrichpayunit@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2018 08:16:17 -0300
Subject: Your Ref: BBPLC/23148/008
FROM THE DESK OF WOOD FOREST BANK Trust Corporation
Finance & Securities Your Ref: BBPLC/23148/008 Our Ref:
BBPLC/XX76890YT5
ATTENTION;
Your fund of $15M (fifteen million united state dollars)
was deposited to be transferd to you by our management .
We confirmed that you are the Rightful Confirmation Of The
Beneficiary Deposited Fund, Sum of $15M (fifteen million
united state dollars Here With Our Bank
You Have to send your Direct Bank Information Where To Transfer Your
Fund $15M (fifteen million united state dollars
Bellow To Avoid Error or Transfer the Fund into another Person 's
Account.
(1)Beneficiary Name..............................................
(2)Your Bank Name..............................................
(3)Your Bank Address.........................................
(4)Your Account Number.......................................
(5) Your Routing Number.................................................
(6)Your Swift No...........................................
(7)Your Home Address.........................................
(8) Your Pictures or Id Cards.................................
(9) Your Home And Office Telephone......................................
(10) Your Occupations.........................................
Please I need the Following Information as urgent as possible to
enable WOOD FOREST BANK arrange your Transfer and Transfer the Fund
Direct to your Account with out any hitch or hip up. Contact our agent Richard Howarth.
Thanks For Your Co-operation,
We Are To Serve you Better
VERY BEST REGARDS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
