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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.
- 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)
- "departofatmcard@rediffmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- 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.
- departofatmcard@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "IMF AWARD GRANT" <imfgrantaward1@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:51:12 -1200
Subject: Award please contact the bank for payment
Dear sir/ madam,
This is a generated email to all the recipients of this award/ grant in case if you receive it more than one time. IMF want to make sure that the recipients are duly contacted. Email the bank for your payment if you have received it already. IMF is under going the program of award review, the recent profile review we had in our award department, has attracted the sum of $1.5 Million United States Dollars compensation grant/award to you as merit. This is in line to your contribution towards professional ethics and service to humanity as recently reviewed.
We have forwarded the payment master list including your name and details to the nominated paying bank, the UBA bank. Please forward this email to the UBA bank or contact email as:
departofatmcard@rediffmail.com re-confirming your details for payment:
(1) Full name----------------------
(2) Full address-----------------------------
(3) Telephone numbers----------------------
(4) Age-------------------------------
(5) Occupation---------------------------
(6) ID-----------------------------------
An ATM card will be activated in your name so you collect your card and start to withdraw your money in your country or anywhere. If you have any question, please free to ask in response to this email.
Yours faithfully,
Mary Fisher (PRO)
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Anti-fraud resources:
