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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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.
- godwinowen05@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: GODWIN OWEN <annj88740@gmail.com>
Reply-To: godwinowen05@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2022 19:19:45 -0800
Subject: Greetings!!!
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Hello,
Good day to you from the board of Commercial Bank International, we
received a total fund of ($5,200,000.00 ) from the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York as part of united states funds benefits, which are to
be credited to you via online bank service you are advised to provide
us with your details such as below. to enable us to create your online
banking account and provide you with the username and login, which you
can use to log in to your online bank account through our bank website
and make your fund transfer into your personal bank account of your
choice.
Full Name:
Current Address:
Age/Gender:
Occupation:
Cell Mobile Number:
Email address:
Scan copy of your Id is very important
your online banking account will be open in your name as soon as you
provide the above details
please you are to forward the above details to this email:
godwinowen05@gmail.com
Regard
Thank you
Godwin Owen
Operations Manager
Commercial Bank International
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Anti-fraud resources:
