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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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 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.
- mrs_bola@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: UNITED NATION COMPENSATION OFFICE <kim@cupcakeroyale.com>
Reply-To: <mslinda@bigmir.net>
Date: Sun, 13 May 2018 17:04:59 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THE BANK FOR YOUR ATM VISA CARD cu p
UNITED NATIONS PAYMENT OFFICE
COMPENSATION PAYMENT UNIT.
WEST AFRICAN REGION OFFICE
Our Ref: UNO /UN/CTB
RELEASE CODE No: 0763
mslinda@bigmir.net
Attention Fund Beneficiary;
COMPENSATION PAYMENT
Please be informed that your long awaited compensation funds payment
in the tune of $13.5M has finally been approved as your email ID is among the list of Beneficiaries that will receive their fund but it has also been
brought to our notice that a gentle man by the name Micheal laton
has just forwarded a new banking details claiming he is your next of
kin and you are dead so here comes the big question:
Did you authorize the above mentioned name to claim your funds?
Are you truly dead or alive?
Is Michael Laton your next of kin?if no kindly reconfirm this
information and get back to us with the below information for
verification as the wire will be done within 48hours from this notice:
Your name:
Current home address:
Country:
Occupation:
Telephone Number:
Age:
Gender:
We await your urgent response so that we can proceed with your
$13.5M payment. However as a matter of urgency you are advise to contact the paying bank
which is UNITED BANK OF AFRICA {U B A}for your ATM VISA CARD , Attention to MRS BOLA .K contact email: mrs_bola@citromail.hu
Contact her with all your contact information including copy of your Identification
Yours faithfully,
MRS LINDA DAVID
UN OFFICE
WEST AFRICA REGION HEAD OFFICE
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Anti-fraud resources:
