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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- robertcookhsbcuk66@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Robert Cook" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertcookhsbcuk66@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2016 21:56:17 -0800
Subject: I INVITE YOU TO BE MY PARTNER
Beloved,
How are you doing today, I hope you are in good health.
I am Robert Cook, a financial consultant attached with a financial
Institution here in the United Kingdom; I am contacting you for assistance in a
business transaction that relates to my late client who died of cancer after
years of struggling with the disease.
The details of my late client who shares same last name with you will be given
to you in my next email; I will furnish you with all the necessary documentation as regards
to this mutual transaction. The Business involved the sum of Five Million, Eight Hundred and fifty
five Thousand United States Dollars.
Please endeavor to provide me with your FULL NAME; CONTACT ADDRESS; PROFESSION; AGE and MOBILE PHONE in your reply.
I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible. PLEASE SEND YOUR
REPLY TO MY DIRECT EMAIL: robertcookhsbcuk66@yahoo.com.ph
Kind Regards
Robert Cook
Email: robertcookhsbcuk66@yahoo.com.ph
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Anti-fraud resources: