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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Anthony Bowman <ashiruisah647@gmail.com>
Reply-To: anthonybowman674@email.cz
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:41:22 -1000
Subject: ATTENTION IS NEEDED PLEASE!
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Fulton-bank of New Jersey
112 De Anza Blvd te A, San Mateo, CA 94402.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ATTENTION IS NEEDED PLEASE!
Greetings from the Fulton Bank New Jersey
I have a vital information which needs to be attended immediately, Did
you authorized anyone to pick up your inheritance fund from our branch
in Cleveland Caldwell Idaho? A man called Mr Osondu Victor Igwilo came
to our office yesterday in respect of your $11.5M which has been credited
with us for the pas 2 months now by the Federal Government to be
transferred into your nominated bank account. He said that you
authorized him to pick up the fund.
This fund has been in our custody for the past two months now and we
have been waiting for you to contact us but we didn't know what it is
hindering you from reaching us since. So we decided to write to you
make sure that you are fine and aware of your inheritance funds of
$10.5Million USD in our branch office in Caldwell Idaho.
We want you to get back to us with the following details:
On me:_
Home address:____
Age:_______
Occupation:______
Phone number: _____
Nearest airport:___
These above listed details are needed as soon as possible if you didn't
authorize anyone to pick up your fund from our branch in Idaho
Mr. Anthony Bowman
Contact my number (209)370-1134
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Anti-fraud resources:
