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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)
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: World Bank Group <christinelagarde110@gmail.com>
Reply-To: worldbankgroup101@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:48:00 +0100
Subject: Attention: Fund Beneficiary
Attention: Fund Beneficiary,
Your abandoned Inheritance funds worth $10.5 Million has been approved
by the World bank / United Nation to pay you through ABC Altra Credit
Union . Address: 1807 East Main St.Onalaska,WI 54650 USA . Therefore,
you are required to contact me immediately to enable me to link you
directly to the customer service of the bank for payment .You will be
paid through Online Banking services. Contact and get back to me for
more details
Waiting for your urgent response.
Regards,
MR PAUL WERNER
(WORLD BANK/UN FINANCIAL COORDINATOR)
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Anti-fraud resources:
