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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:
- "inheritance funds" (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.
- usacustom010@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Helena Browan" <"www."@diary.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Helena Browan" <usacustom010@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2016 19:35:11 +0900 (JST)
Subject: U.S.A.Embassy Service Department.
MG Timothy J. Lowenberg,Adjutant General and Director State Military
Department Washington Military Dept., Bldg1 Camp Murry ,Wash 98430-5000 USA Text or Call 928 275 6769
U.S.A.Embassy Service Department.
Attention. To The Recipient
We the monetary affairs of Usa embassy of rep Benin discovered that you have not been paid for your past won, inheritance funds from the west African corrupted bank and individuals: Or have you received your fund? The Usa embassy and i.m.f decided to cash the monies and install into an ATM card to use that means of payment to refunds all the American citizens who had lost hard earned their money to the African and west African corrupted banks, lawyers /attorneys and diplomats.So kindly reconfirm your information to expedite on delivering the Platinum Visa-card Atm card to you. Thus: Your full names… Your Home address.. Your cell-Telephone number. Forwards the information to the us embassy Benin contact email at : usacustom010@gmail.com Text or Call 928 275 6769
Yours In Service,
Mrs.Helena Browan.
Assistant Secretary of U.S Embassy
in Benin State for African Affairs
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Anti-fraud resources: