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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:
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Peter Alasan <peteralasan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: peteralasan@aol.com
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:38:48 -0700
Subject: Dear Beneficiary.
--
Dear Beneficiary.
This is to inform you that the United Nation Organization in
conjunction with the World Bank has released the 2023 compensation
Fund which you are one of the lucky 40 winners that the committee has
resolved to compensate with the sum of US$2,500,000 ( Two Million Five
Hundred United State Dollars) after the 2023 general online
compensation raffle draw held last WEEK during the UNCC conference
this year with The Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. António
Guterres in Geneva Switzerland. This payment program is aimed at
charities / fraud Victims and their development to help individuals to
establish their own private business/companies.
Your E-mail was randomly selected among others to receive this Fund
through our International Micro Soft Network during the compensation
Ballot survey/draws.
Therefore,contact Engineer Account Mr. Patrick Georgieva, he is our
representative Director of the International Audit unit ATM Payment
Center that will organize with you in Dispatch or handling Your
DISCOVER CARD to your Destination.
You are to make sure that you received the UN Approved DISCOVER CARD
in your names which is in list founds in names of U.N world list to
receive this UN Guest Compensation.
We are at your service.
Many Thanks,
United Nations Liaison Office,
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Anti-fraud resources:
