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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Eze Johnson Welstead" <"EZE."@vega.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr.Eze Johnson Welstead" <ezejohnsonwelstead@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:45:25 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR $25.5MUSD IS READY TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU NOW.
YOUR $25.5MUSD IS READY TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU NOW.
this is Dr.Eze Johnson I alive in united state of america
right now with your
package worth $25.5 million dollars so contact me now to
tell you what to do
now to enable your package to be delivered to you this
morning OK,and too I
want you to reconfirm your information below to avoid
delivery to long person.
YOUR HOME ADDRESS============
YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER============
YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER================
I shall try my possible best to make sure you receive your
package
today. and will like you to Take my word because i am
strongly beside you and
my
effort to this does not end until you confirm the
availability of your fund in
your hands.
Yours sincerely
Dr.Eze Johnson Welstead
+12092602246
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Anti-fraud resources:
