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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:
- "million 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "courier service" (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: "Mr. Jim Ovia" <frgrtqw@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officefiws@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 06:55:37 +0100
Subject: Dear Fund Beneficiary12
Dear Fund Beneficiary.
This is the 3rd time i am sending you this notification letter
regarding your abandoned ATM Master Card valued sum of US$2.5 Million
and i have not received any positive response from you or making a
suggestion on how you wish to receive your ATM Card. Once again; I am
Jim Ovia, the new director ATM Head of Operation Zenith Bank Plc, I
resumed this office on the 6th of March 2023 and during my official
research I discovered an abandoned ATM Master card valued sum of $2.5
Million dollars belonging to you as the rightfully intimate
beneficiary.
I tried to know why this card has not been released to you but I was
told by the Union management that the former director ATM head of
operation who left this office four months ago withheld your card for
his own personal use without knowing that his evil plans towards
diverting your fund will be discovered.
Alternatively it can be arranged to ship to your address through any
registered reliable courier service company that you will take care of
the courier charge, hope it is cleared and accepted by you?
I don't know the courier cost of shipping the card to you but if you
permit me and accept the terms, then I can make an inquiry from the
courier shipping company to find out the cost, but in that case you
will be required to forward to me your address where you want to
receive the
card to enable me find out the shipping cost to your location.
Your direct telephone number and address will be needed and more
details of your ATM card payment will be made known to you as soon as
I
receive your swift positive response.
Thanks for your co-operation and I wait for your kind positive
response.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Jim Ovia
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