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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "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.
- sec.stephanieavakian@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "US. Security Exchange & Commission " <watsonhoward2015@gmail.com>
Reply-To: SEC.stephanieavakian@aol.com
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2021 16:18:11 +0100
Subject: US. Security Exchange & Commission
Security Exchange and Commission
200 Vesey Street, Suite 400.
New York, NY 10281.
Tel: +1(701)404-1275
Emai:SEC.stephanieavakian@aol.com
Attn: Sir,
We are the US.Security Exchange and Commission pay centre point
attachedwith the Deutsche Bank branch in New York City hereby contact
you today to inform you on the transfer on transit with this bank
(Bank of America ) in your favour.
Fund worth TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS ONLY (US$10.
500,000.00) You are requested to confirm the ownership so that we can
proceed with the transaction to transmit your fund to your choice
account.
We request you to send any form of Identification which will
substantiate your claims. We have been Authorised by the Federal
Government of Nigeria and the United Nations to wire the above funds
into your account without any further delay or interception kindly get
back to us as soon as possible to enable the paying bank to process
the bank Draft on your behalf which was issued by the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
Thank you.
Yours Faithfully
Mrs.Barbara Sharon (P.A.)to,
Mrs. Stephanie Avakian
Director US Security Exchange
and Commission (SEC).
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