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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.
- 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.
- dr.charliehowell@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Christiane Lagarde" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.charliehowell@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2019 01:47:48 +0100
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
1900 PENNSYLVANIA Ave NW
WASHINGTON DC.
20431.
Attention Beneficiary
This is to formally inform you that your file on your fund transfer has reached Mrs.Christiane Lagarde Managing Director of the IMF(The International Monetary Fund).
We are also aware that your transaction has been dormant for a while now, and we will like to know why.
It will be in your own interest to get back to the department director Dr Charlie who is in charge of the transfer unit of IMF,get back to him as soon as possible, failure to do so we shall confiscate your funds to charity.
Email.......dr.charliehowell@gmail.com
Fill Out the information to him if you are ready to receive your FUNDS
Your Full Name:...............
Direct Phone:....................
Country.................
Occupation:.....................
Gender:.........
Age:..............
Bank details.............
A Scan Copy Of Your Identity Card Or Drivers License.
And take note any other email you receive from anybody claiming to have your fund should be sent to this office and you are advised to stop any transaction or payment to the institutions who have been in contact with you lately for they are scam and the FBI and EFCC are after them,so be smart the IMF is now in-charge of all dept .
We await your reply.
Have a good day.
Managing Director,
Mrs.Christiane Lagarde
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Anti-fraud resources: