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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:
- "clearance fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "robertwong@vivaldi.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Robert H. Wong"<noreply@vivaldi.net>
Reply-To: <robertwong@vivaldi.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2019 04:58:07 -0700
Subject: Re: Are you aware of this ?
Greetings:
How are you today, I want to know why you sent Mr. Gilbert Norman from USA Chicago to us claiming your Upfront Payment Fund of $2.5 MILLION on your behalf without your direct order to transfer your Fund to the bank account of Mr. Gilbert Norman as I have stated below.
Bank Name Wells Fargo
Bank Address 500 N Circle Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80909, USA
Bank Account Name Gilbert Norman
Bank Account Number 2042509535
Bank Routing Number 121000248
The reason why this fund have been delayed for a long time now is because they tried to deliver it to you at your residential address but it was discovered that the Custom Clearance fee was greatly demanded as they refused to take 50% upfront payment.
Now kindly confirm to me now urgently email: ( robertwong@vivaldi.net ) because for security reasons we have to act fast and get your Fund secured.
Waiting to hear from you.
Dr. Robert H. Wong
Telex Fund Transfer Manager
ALLIED IRISH BANK
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Anti-fraud resources:
