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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 united states 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Anderson Clark <hillthomas111@gmail.com>
Reply-To: aclark090909@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2022 03:03:01 -0700
Subject: HELLO
Attention
RE: GOOD NEWS AS YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER OF THE
FISCAL YEAR 2022.
I write to inform you that your name is among the beneficiaries that will
receive their funds of US$10.5 Million (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars Only) this second quarter of the fiscal year 2022.
In view of this good news, I am pleased to inform you that your total
Payment Compensation Entitlement of US$10.5 Million has been cleared and
approved to be released to you finally through our Offshore Payment Centers
in two different countries which will be disclosed to you as soon as you
respond to my proposal.
Consequently, you are expected to travel to two countries of offshore
payment centers to sign your Original Funds Classified Document (OFCD) to
legally empower our Payment Officer to transfer your funds to you without
you paying any money upfront again till your funds get into your bank
account of your choice.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ADVANCE OR PAY ANY MONEY UPFRONT TILL
YOUR FUNDS GET TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
Furthermore, it is very important that you send me the below information as
to enable us get your Flight Ticket and your Hotel Accommodation:
Your Full Names.
Your Full Address.
Your Mobile Tel. No./Whatsapp Tel. No.
Your Occupation.
Valid Copy of Your International Passport.
Name of Your Nearest International Airport in Your City.
Finally, if you accept to make this trip, note that the entire journey will
take you only 5 days to conclude. Therefore, you should prepare yourself
for this number of days that you will travel.
Kindly contact me on my private email
Await your urgent reply.
Mr.Anderson Clark
RE-NO UPFRONT PAYMENT NEEDED.
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