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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:
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Fund Comptroller office <mrandrewmccabe149@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fundcomptrolleroffice79@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2021 13:18:26 -0700
Subject: Greetings Dear Beneficiary
--
Greetings to you, this mail is coming to you from the U.S. Fund
Comptroller's Office. We are contacting you today regarding a
compensation payment which you are supposed to receive from this
Office last year 2020. I am happy to inform you that your remaining
fund 136 million dollars ($136,000.000.00) the payment has been
approved today.
After a brief meeting held today by executive members of this Office,
we have concluded to pay the remaining ($136,000.000.00) to you once
and for all.
The money has been deposited for you to the HSBC Bank USA.
The only fee you are required to pay is $50 to secure an affidavit
claim certificate so that you can receive the 136 million dollars
successful. I repeat, the only fee you are required to pay is $50
only. And (1) Your current home address
(2) Phone number:
Thanks.
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Anti-fraud resources:
