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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- richardreese342@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Richard Reese"<info@usa.org>
Reply-To: richardreese342@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2017 21:22:20 -0300
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT!!!
Attention; The sum of $4,500,000 (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United=
States Dollars) out of your over due total sum has been approved for payme=
nt through ATM cash card system after all attempts to pay you through bank,=
and diplomatic courier failed. The approved sum has been programmed into t=
he ATM cash card which will be dispatched to you through your address upon =
reconfirmation. I have made several attempts to contact you and this is the=
3rd and perhaps the last letter to you in respect to this matter. Meanwhil=
e, I received a power of attorney from one MR. CAMBELL WILLIE from U.S.A pu=
rportedly issued by you asking us to change the fund beneficiary to his nam=
e. However, you should kindly reconfirm this information to MR.RICHARD REES=
E immediately for your compensation payment or emailing the address below: =
Your Full Names Current Address Current Phone Numbers Gender Age Occupation=
Email: richardreese342@yahoo.com He is obliged to treat your case with utm=
ost urgency as soon as you contact him and fill out your correct details in=
cluding all reachable phone numbers for him to get in touch with you via ph=
one and email.$100 (0ne hundred United State Dollars) nothing more and no h=
idden fees of any sort! Upon receipt of payment the payment officer will en=
sure that your package is sent within 24 working hours. Because I am very s=
ure of everything, I am giving you a 100% money back guarantee if you do no=
t receive payment/package within the next 24hrs after you have made the pay=
ment for shipping. Good luck and kind regards Making the world a better pla=
ce! MR.RICHARD REESE
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Anti-fraud resources:
