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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- drdicksonebo@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ZENITH BANK PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <foreignremittancedepartment201@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2018 05:38:35 -0800
Subject: LAST QUARTER PAYMENT NOTIFICATION FOR THE YEAR 2018
Zenith International Bank Plc
ATM Visa/Swift Card Unit,
Attn. Fund Beneficiary,
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Zenith
International Bank Nigeria PLC has
released your Contract/Inheritance/Compensation Fund of Ten Million
United States Dollars only ($10M) to you as the fund beneficiary.
We have credited your fund ($10M) into an ATM Visa Card which will be
sending to your doorstep by Courier Service on the provision of your
personal details. How to receive your ATM Visa Card; you are required
to reconfirm to me your personal details as follows:
Full Name;
Full Address (where you want to receive your ATM Card);
Occupation;
Country;
Phone Number;
Sex/Age;
As soon as you supply your contact information, your card will be
processed and the money credited into it for delivery. Please note
delivery fee of your ATM CARD shall be taken care of
by you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Dickson Ebo.
Private email: drdicksonebo@gmail.com
Finance and Audit Department, Zenith Bank
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Anti-fraud resources:
