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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- wwwwinfoauthority@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: DAVID JACKSON <info@test.com>
Reply-To: <wwwwinfoauthority@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:17:47 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
Our Ref: RTB /SNT/STB
To. Beneficiary.
I am Special Agent David Jackson and am here in Nigeria as an FBI
delegate that has been delegated to investigate this fraudsters who
are in the business of swindling Foreigners that came for transaction
in Nigeria . Please be informed that during my investigation I got to
find out that there is a huge sum of $10.5 million that has been
assigned in your name( Beneficiary) and this fraudsters are busy
swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund.
NOTE: You are not suppose to pay that huge amount from the beginning
before the release of your fund can commence depending on how you want
the transfer made to you. We have to inform you that we have made
some arrested in respect of this delayed over due fund. I have a very
limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I advise you urgently respond
to this message .
I shall expect your response as soon as you receive this email.
Please Note that I have attached my Identification to this email. do
not inform any of the people that collected money from you before now
about this new development, to avoid jeopardizing our investigation.
Reply with this email address wwwwinfoauthority@aol.com
or you can call me on my telephone number +234 80 74613981.
Best Regard,
DAVID JACKSON
FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION NIGERIA DIVISION
INVESTIGATION ON ALL ONLINE WIRE TRANSFER
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Anti-fraud resources: