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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:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Santander Bank USA <moneyriatransferdirector@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bankmanager009@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2021 21:38:33 +0100
Subject: Urgent Contact me on WhatsAPP (+1(347)518-7318) now before the
delivery of your ATM card will be expired.
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Consumer USA Corporate Headquarters
Address: 1601 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75201, United States
Tel: +1(347)518-7318
Attention:ATM Visa card owner/Beneficiary.
We believed that you got our previous email since 2 months and this is
the second times we are informing you that government of Benin
Republic has alert our
bank here with sum of $3.500.000.00 USD which the instruction to issue
an ATM visa card from our foreign bank and ship it to your home
address and through the check we received from the Presidency office
in Benin Republic it has been stated that it is your winning award
compensation since 2008 which you are unable to claimed due to African
banks delays you,
Finally after our bank verification we found out that you are really
owner of the said amount of the compensation worth sum $3.500.000.00
USD and Benin Republic office of presidency has paid all the fees to
release the funds to you base on the ATM card agreement therefore the
only fee you have pay is $50.00 for the activation of your ATM card
with your full detail to enable you cash $5,000 daily from the Debit
card.
Send us your full details to activate your ATM visa card on your
details and do not forget to send the activation fee $50.00
immediately because we are not allowed to deduct it from the amount on
your compensation ATM card, Fill below now.
Your Full name:____________
Your Home address:__________
Your Id card attached:________________
Your Number:---------------
You advised to send this information immediately today with payment
$50.00 because we need to process it immediately as we advised not to
delay.
Send your details to our whats App below: +1(347)518-7318
God Bless you
Best Service
USA Santander Consumer Bank
Bank Manager
Mrs.Sandra Jean Wright
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Anti-fraud resources: