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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:
- "jrsteven_gay@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Steven Gray Jr <paymentdivisionoffice1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jrsteven_gay@live.com
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2013 23:13:36 +0100
Subject: I Seek Your Consent!!!
Hello ,
I am Steven Gray from the hospitality state (Mississippi) but having a
home in Rochester USA. I am in need of your help to receive, secure
and protect my boxes containing the $23.3M usd till my assignment
elapses here. I cannot afford to leave the boxes with Ghana military
Base since here was getting unsafe and dangerous every day I had to
ship the boxes through the help of one Mr. Leh working for U.N and Red
Cross organization here. Now I have no idea what could happen next as
everything remains inconclusive at this point. In my next mail I will
include my picture for you to know whom you are dealing with. I assure
and promise to give you 20% of this fund, however feel free to
negotiate what you wish to have as your percentage in this deal.Please
assure me of your keeping this topmost secret within you so that my
job would not be jeopardized. Contact me through E mail (
jrsteven_gay@live.com )
My Sincere Regards,
Steven Gray Jr
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Anti-fraud resources:
