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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- emefielem705@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Godwin Emefiele <committeepanel1999@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2022 23:45:49 +0100
Subject: I await your urgent response.
Our Ref:CSFCL/HK-03XXX/078/017.
Your Ref:CSFCL/HK-03XXX-HAYD/LB/017.
YOU ARE ADVISE TO REPLY TO THIS MAILING ADDRESS : emefielem705@yahoo.com
I am happy to inform you that verification of your beneficiary status came
back positive and as such the referring Financial Authority has now
PROVISIONALLY approved your ownership, rights and beneficiary status to the
said fund and assigned the same for clearance and transfer to your bank
account.
For this verification approval to become effective you are kindly requested
to Send us a scanned copy of your identification (International passport or
driver’s license) for obvious security reasons.
NOTE: Upon receipt of the above, we shall process, verify and authorize the
remittance of the funds to your designated bank account details within 48
hours.
YOU ARE ADVISE TO REPLY TO THIS MAILING ADDRESS : emefielem705@yahoo.com
Treat this message with the urgency it deserves.
I await your urgent response.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Godwin Emefiele
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Anti-fraud resources:
