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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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: CENTRAL BANK <mmooneymike@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ocentralbank249@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2021 00:46:30 -0700
Subject: Online Account Be Terminated
In Our office Was A Presence Of One Mr. Shem Pullen of 343 mustang St
prairie Lea Texas 78661.filing application contrary to your pending
fund transfer. The above mentioned person visited this Bank yesterday
with a power of attorney given in his favor by your good self,
granting him the benefit to process and claim your inheritance of
$5,000,000.00( Five Million United States Dollars Only) for personal
reasons.
We are sorry to have delayed your instruction in giving out this fund
since we must adhere to the mod-us operands of this honorable bank by
making sure this request is verified and confirmed by the beneficiary
and his existing attorney.
A.s.a.p
Thanks and God Bless,
Mr Godwin Emefiele .
Central Bank Governor
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Anti-fraud resources:
