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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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: assetscontroloffice <femiajewole2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unofficescheme2@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:09:39 +0100
Subject: Urgent.
Attn:
I am Rose Forman from Debt Financial Centre USA, I am contacting you
in regards to the approval of your inheritance /contract funds of $6.5
Million United States Dollars.
You are hereby advice to reconfirm your details to the following
financial institution, your full name, your current address including
your private telephones/ fax numbers and a scan copy of your valid I.D
to:
Security Bank Corporation (SBC) Manila Philippines
Email: contact@securitybankonline.org
Contact Person: Mr. Alejandro Gomez
Phone: +639569814753
I wait to hear from you as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Ms. Rose Foreman.
Legal Department
Debt Financial Centre,
United States America .
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Anti-fraud resources: