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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- federxcompany@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: john mike <imf54842@gmail.com>
Reply-To: federxcompany@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2021 10:02:21 -0700
Subject: FINANCIAL MONITORY DEPARTMENT/UNIT. WORLD BANK
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FINANCIAL MONITORY DEPARTMENT/UNIT. WORLD BANK
100 Broad Street Main Ave Victoria Island, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)
ATTENTION! Are You DEAD or Alive?
This is to officially inform you that your Fund has been packaged with
your favor. The consignment box value with $20.2 million dollars.
You are advice to contact our Affiliate company with the information below.
NOTE: The only fees you have to pay is the courier company fee which
is $100.00 Please you don't have to worry for anything as the
transaction is 100% risk free. The consignment is coming with a FedEx
representative agent who will accompany the consignment box to your
house address.
We write to confirm the information we just heard from a man named Mr.
Andrew michael, he came to our office on your behalf and he disclosed
to us that you ask him to come and claim your compensation funds of
($20.2 million dollars) He made things very cleared to us that you are
dead and he's the only person you disclosed this matter with and you
have instructed him to come and claim the money since you are dead.
I am writing to confirm the fact if you are DEAD or Alive and failure
to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Mr. Andrew michael
said is right that you are dead. Mr. Andrew michael has agreed to pay
the needed fund valued at $100 Dollars required for the postage fee of
your consignment box, but we have not gotten the money from him yet as
we want to find out if you are dead or not, so if you are still Alive
reconfirm your information
your name
your home address
your nearest airport
your phone number
and your identification card
contact email federxcompany@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
