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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:
- "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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Robin Sanders <sales1@aliyon.store>
Reply-To: mrsrobinsanders186@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2018 17:01:18 +0000
Subject: DID YOU SEND THIS WOMAN TO MY OFFICE ?
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Attn; Fund Beneficiary
I am Mrs Robin Sanders, Former U.S.A Ambassador to Nigeria. With
reference to your entitlement fund and inline with the CHANGE OF
BENEFICARY'S APPLICATION, signed by Mrs. Glenda F. Ward with your
purported authorization. This case has been carefully examined and we
have declined Mrs. Ward's application and reported to the security
department for appropriate action, as the application lacks regular
signature. But Did you ever instruct Mrs Glenda F. Ward to claim your
fund worth US$7.000.000? Below is the bank account information provided
by Mrs Glenda F. Ward saying that you authorized her to claim your fund
that you are terminally ill.
1.BANK NAME: BANK OF AMERICA
2.ACCOUNT NAME: GLENDA WARD
3.BANK ADDRESS: Kerrville Texas 78028 USA
4.ACCOUNT #: 3202650
5.ROUTING #: 114922443
If you had not authorized the change of your bank account in respect to
your outstanding entitlement Payment, therefore notify me immediately as
the notification / declaration was supported with a sworn affidavit from
Lagos high court ref: ilk /jj/202/k2015, dated 20/09/2018 and signed by
Mrs. Glenda Ward who claim and stated in the sworn declaration that you
authorized her to claim the said fund on your behalf to a different bank
account in the U.S.A as stated above because you were terminally ill and
the Doctor who is incharge of your case stated that you will not stay
more than one Month before passing away.
This development has caused lots of discrepancies in your payment file
that is why we had to suspend your payment and prompted to contact you
directly before rejuvenating your payment. You have to be rest assured
that I will do everything within my capacity to successfully actualize
the quick transfer of your fund to any of your nominated bank account.
Kindly get back to me as soon as possible so that I will direct you on
what to do.
Sincerely Yours
Mrs Robin Sanders
Fmr. U.S Ambassador
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