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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- legalservices601@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "European Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <legalservices601@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2018 01:16:56 -0800
Subject: RE: RE-VALIDATION OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS.
European Union
Address: No. B-1049 Brussels, BELGIUM
RE: RE-VALIDATION OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS
I would like to officially inform you that after the receipt of the report from the (IMF) International Monetary Fund
committee setup to review your awaited payment to settle Contract debt, Inheritance and Winning Prizes. We further
discovered that these funds were in the process of being diverted to a bank in the Channels Island before it was detected
by the (IMF) authorities and put on hold.
We were further informed that the funds bear your name and from all indications, you are not aware of the diversion of
these funds as you must have been discouraged from claiming these funds by those who were in position to pay you. Be
informed that the sum of $4.5 Million [Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars] has been safely recovered and
endorsed for immediate remittance in your favor via online deposit by the paying bank.
Please confirm this notification by sending the following information below to the accredited attorney who is in
possession of your remittance paperwork and will instruct you as to how you will communicate with the paying bank via a
Regional Account Manager that will be assigned to assist you to process and pay the afore mentioned sum to you within
72hours:
[1] Full Names:
[2] Address:
[3] Tel Number(s):
Accredited Attorney
Contact Person: Mr. John Eddy
Email: legalservices601@gmail.com
Phone: +1 (708) 888-1992
NOTE: You are advised to contact the accredited attorney Mr. John Eddy now to carry out your payment file, the
verification and payment procedures will commence as soon as he receives your contact email.
Yours truly,
(Mrs.) Elizabeth Arthur
Remittance Department
European Union
Bureau Of Unclaimed Funds
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Anti-fraud resources:
