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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "time is not on my side" (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.
- 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.
- alexmartins112200@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MARTINS <martinsalex875@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:32:23 +0200
Subject: I WANT YOU TO HELP ME INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY
Dear Sir,
I am a medical doctor working
with NATO currently in SYRIA. I have some money I made in Basher
al-Assad’s compound. I have kept it as secret for a little
while and I need someone I can entrust this amount to,which is
currently deposited in a financial bank in Indonesia. Please I will
need your help on
this transaction and will hand over to you 25 % of the total money to
you as the beneficiary. I will need to work with you in getting this
money out of INDONESIA. I will also like you to Invest and buy
property for me in your country.
Get back to me on this and I will make the arrangement on how to get
this done. I have no one to confide in I joined the army as an orphan
and don't have someone to confide in. I believe you will be of helpful
to me. I will be reviling the said amount immediately you give me your
word of confidence to go ahead for this is a very huge amount of
money.
Kindly give me your telephone number so we can communicate easily
Expecting your reply soonest for time is not on my side.
email;alexmartins112200@gmail.com
Regards to your family,
Dr. Alex
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Anti-fraud resources:
