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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mrgeorgef111@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ruth Walker <usp_customer_service@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: Ruth Walker <mrgeorgef111@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 15:07:54 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: INTERNATIONAL ATM SWIFT CARD or WIRE TRANSFER
 Hello, I have waited for this communication from you since last 3 weeks as a doctor, I do not have time for myself. According to instruction, I was assigned to contact you for your compensation fund, you are hereby advice to contact Rev Anthony George with the choice of receiving your compensation fund, either by CASHIER CHEQUE or through INTERNATIONAL ATM SWIFT CARD or WIRE TRANSFER.Please he will be waiting for your respond so that he ill be going to the bank to make the arrangement for the check to be issued and send to you .However I want to let you know that your cheque ill be deliver to your address by the Courier company like i instructed him send your full information to him.
Full your name address cellphone
please contact: Rev Anthony George Email(mrgeorgef111@gmail.com)
immediately.so that he will be sending your payment to you today. he is wait for your urgently response.
 God bless you Ruth.
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