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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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 dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "DOUGLAS RICHARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <douglasrichard1012@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2017 08:03:50 +0200
Subject: Department of Treasury Direct Account
I am Mr. Douglas Richard, Deputy Manager for the US Department of Treasury Direct Account. I am getting in touch with you regarding sum of US$20.5M (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) awarded contract fund.
According to US Department of Treasury Direct Account you are not required to purchase this transaction with your own money because we have finance that will loan you fund to finalize this transaction.
This is 100% risk free.
Please send me a mail and I will send full details to you.
1) Youre Full Name and you Company Name.
2) Your Mobile Number
3) Your Home address and your Company address.
4) Your Full Company bank account details.
Regards,
Mr. Douglas Richard
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Anti-fraud resources: