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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:
- ",000,000" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "GUARANTY TRUST BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnduggan583@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 18:31:43 +0100
Subject: THIS IS GOOD NEWS
Attention:
My Name is Mr.James from Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana. I am here to Deliver ATM CARD to your address so please get back to me for more details because i am at the airport right now with your two ATM and my departure is tomorrow afternoon so i need to speak to you before i start coming to your country. Total Amount of money involve with your two card is $15,000,000.00 as it was approved by United Nations and i will take you to any near by ATM Machine to withdraw first $5000 before i return back to Ghana. I wait to hear from you soon and call me +233266469310.
Thanks
John
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Anti-fraud resources:
