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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 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: "Amb Joseph Chiedu Keshi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <privatemmm@rediffmail.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2021 02:20:03 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONS LETTER
UBA BANK NEW YORK, USA
1 Rockefeller Plaza (8th Floor)
New York, NY 10020. United States
You total SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUNDS sum of $25.7Million dollars is now awaiting to be deposited into your new online
banking account that was credited in this bank by World Bank President Mr. David R. Malpass as soon as we got the feed back
from you with your contact details to allow you make transfer to any account in the world from your computer at home office
at any convenient time without going to your bank, You cell phone is needed.
Finally, feel free to decide on what step to follow to get your fund immediately.
Best Regards.
Amb Joseph Chiedu Keshi
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Anti-fraud resources:
