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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- mr.davidfhb@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- executive vice president of consumer banking email: mr.davidfhb@gmail.com contact him by email for the final crediting of your fund (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Marrion Jefferson" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: info.swiftransfer@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:12:22 +0200
Subject: GOODNEWS FOR YOUR INHERITANCE REPLY URGENT
Dear Esteemed Customer,
I write to infrom you that your outstanding contracts/inheritance and lottery Winning Investment fund due for payment has been transfer to First Horizon Bank a registered Commercial Bank in USA for onward transfer to your account local account, noted that your fund are currently in a Dormant Account with First Horizon Bank which made this said fund inactive for transfer until you contact the bank and setup or Activate a temporary MOBILE BANKING or Non Residential Swift Transfer account which will use to credit the said (25.5M USD) Twenty Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only to your new account setup with First Horizon Bank and transfer from the New account to your LOCAL ACCOUNT in your state , country or anywhere in the world.
Here is the contact information for payment director First Horizon Bank
Contact Person.
Mr. David Miller,
Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking
Email: mr.davidfhb@gmail.com
Contact him by email for the final crediting of your fund as directed by the approved documents from the different government agencies with the United Nation, IMF, United States Government and European Union. contact him with your direct Telephone number full name and address:
Best Regards
Mr. Marrion Jefferson
(Claim Agent/financial consultant)
Email: marrionjefferson@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
