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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Lizzy Monaco" <offucef@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrdammamaunitednationsresident@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2023 17:36:48 +0100
Subject: FROM Mrs.Lizzy Monaco
--
Dear Sir/Madam
This is to official inform you that we have been having meetings for
the past Three(3) weeks which ended days ago with Mr. Jim Yong Kim
the World Bank president
and other seven continent presidents on the Congress we treated on
solution to Scam victim problems.
Note: we have decided to contact you following the reports we received
from Anti-Fraud International Monitoring Group your name/email has
been submitted to us
therefore the United Nations have agreed to compensate you with the
sum of($2,500,000.00) this compensation is also including
international business that failed due to Government problems etc.
We have arranged your payment through our MasterCard ATM or Bank to
Bank transaction which
is the latest instruction from the World Bank president Mr. Jim Yong
Kim therefore be advice
to contact
our United Nations Resident. Name Mr.Damien Mama who is in position
to release your
MasterCard ATM or transfer your fund to your Bank Account contact him
and make sure you
forwards your full details as listed bellow.
1. Full Name:......
2. Country:..........
3. Delivery Address:.........
4. Telephone..........:& Occupation.......
5. Your Age...... /Sex....................
6: You’re Nearest Airport..............
7: Copy of your any valid ID card
Once again for the collection of your MasterCard ATM or Bank to Bank
transaction contact
our United Nations Resident to enable you confirm
your payment without further delay and note that any other contact you
made out side his office is at of your own risk.
Thanks
Mrs.Lizzy Monaco
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Anti-fraud resources:
