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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:
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
- zenithbank671@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Michael Thomason <gracielarobert7@gmail.com>
Reply-To: pauledward202130@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2021 17:52:10 -0700
Subject: Re: CONTACT HSBC BANK NOW FOR THE ONLINE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS!!!
Attn: fund owner,
We wish to inform you about new agreed easy plan to receive your total
fund of US$4.800,000.00. You can receive this fund within 48 hours via
bank to bank online transfer. This development was called on by UN,
World Bank and I.M.F foreign mission to help some people who have
their funds in different banks in the world. This office therefore
advise you to contact the below bank and have your total fund transfer
to you within 48 hours. This team have until 22nd Sept 2021 to
Complete their mission and report back to world bank and I.M.F
Headquarters in New York. Make sure you reply this mail as soon as
possible and always check your mail for urgent transfer updates.
Re-confirm the below info
Your name : -----------------------------------------
Your house address : ----------------------------
Your country and city : ----------------------------
Your bank name : ---------------------------------
Your mobile phone #: ---------------------------
Please do not send your personal bank account number to anyone because
you will be the person to transfer the fund into your account via
online as guide by our customer care officer.
Contact person: Mr Louis Carter
Hot line number +1 (614) 254-6824
Email: zenithbank671@gmail.com
Your reply is the only delay now you can call the customer care as
soon as you reply this mail, Note!! This online transfer codes will
charged by percentages but it has to be an immediate transfer.
Urgently contact them today for your safe transfer.
Thanks
Mr. Michael Thomas
Board Secretary General
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