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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:
- "consignment " (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: "Patrick.Williams" <info@aol.com>
Reply-To: patrick.williams006556@gmail.com
Date: 24 Sep 2019 15:49:09 +0300
Subject: Re: Attn: Consignee
Attn: Consignee,
Your cash consignment intercepted at the airport because of failure of the delivery officer to declare the cash in excess of $10,000 has finally been slated for a deposit in a Bank in California,for an onward transfer of $10Million into your designated Bank account. However we are having counter claims on this from different beneficiaries who claimed that you are insolvent, hence we should accept their proposal to receive the payment in their account on your behalf. If you still exist get back
urgently with your details for authentication:
1. Your Full Name.
2. Home phone & Cell Phone
3. Any form of Identification either Drivers license or International Passport.
So that I will let you know how to contact the Bank for immediate transfer of the money into your account.
Regards,
Mr Patrick.Williams
For UN.
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Anti-fraud resources:
