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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 united states 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- u.n.compensation.dept@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Maurice Lloyd Chambers <www.@fuga.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Maurice Chambers Lloyd <iam.mauricechambers15@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Dec 2017 22:50:15 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Can you be trusted?
Dear owner of this email,
I hope you will receive this email, Although we never knew each other prior to this email and information herein. My name is Maurice Chambers Lloyd from Dublin Ireland. I 'm 74 years without any surviving relation or child and a Cancer patient, The doctors told me there's a slim chance for survival and because of this I have deposited $24 Million United States dollars with the United Nations Security remittance Vault in London Uk on your behalf. This money is all my life earnings as a former Oil magnet and business entrepreneur. Please use this money judiciously to serve humanity and better your future as my heart directed me.
United Nations Security remittance Vault in London via email:
United Nations Security remittance Vault
London United Kingdom
E-mail:u.n.compensation.dept@hotmail.com
Contact person:Mr.Morris Oldman
Try and open communication with relevant department for immediate release and funds takeover. Please keep this information as top secret in your heart and i will be happy where ever i might be.
Remain blessed,
Maurice Chambers Lloyd.
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