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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: collins hopewell <collinshopewell406@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: zenithbank.ng2015@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2022 03:27:50 -0700
Subject: DEAR CONCERN BENEFICIARY.
DEAR CONCERN BENEFICIARY.
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR NAME IS AMONG THE SHORTLISTED CONCERN
CONTRACTORS/ INHERITANCE THEIR NEW GOLDEN ATM CARD IS NOW READY FOR
DISPATCH. SOME IMPOSTORS ARE SENDING ALL SORTS OF ACCOUNT INFORMATION
TO RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS. PLEASE FILL THE FORM ATTACHED FOR YOUR
CORRECTIONS BE IDENTIFIED.
WHAT IS BEING REQUIRED OF YOU IS YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS AND YOUR
PRIVATE CELL PHONE NUMBER FOR THE COURIER COMPANY WILL USE TO LOCATE
YOU UPON THEIR ARRIVAL IN YOUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, AS YOUR RESPONSE
THE COURIER NAME WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU TO CONTACT THEM.
WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU. FILL THE FORM ATTACHED. YOU CAN AS WELL
SEND YOUR INFORMATION BY WRITING.
PLEASE DO GIVE A WORKING CELL PHONE NUMBER AND YOUR PERSONAL ID, FOR
IDENTIFICATION BY THE COURIER COMPANY.
REGARDS.
MR PIUS ANYANWU.
ZENITH BANK PLC.
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Anti-fraud resources:
