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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:
- "union_bnk_customer_service@outlook.com" (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.
- 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.
- mercycool35@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Union Bank PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mercycool35@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2019 21:57:44 -0000
Subject: Hello Friend
Union Bank PLC.
Address: 13 Fredman Drive 8th Floor,
Norwich Sandton,
Johannesburg 2199 South Africa
Customer care email: union_bnk_customer_service@outlook.com
Hello Friend,
Your compensation funds worth $5.5 Million in ATM Card is ready for
shipment. Urgently reconfirm to our bank your Delivery address and
your direct phone number immediately for shipment.
Please get back to me at my direct email address at; mercycool35@gmail.com
,for more details of your payment and shipment.
Thanks as I anticipate your cordial compliance.
Mrs Cynthia Zuma ( ATM CARD Issuance unit)
Quick Reply
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Anti-fraud resources:
