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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Mavis L. Wanczyk" <billadams122@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsmaviswanczyk00@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2018 23:09:48 +0100
Subject: DONATION!!! DONATION!!!
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I am Mrs. Mavis L. Wanczyk, a clerk in the nursing department at Mercy
Medical Center in Springfield, the winner of $ 758.7 million dollars in
the Power ball Lottery Jackpot as the largest prize from a single
lottery ticket in USA history, i won this lottery on 23rd August 2017
and I am writing to inform you that Google in alliance with Microsoft
submitted your "Email" upon my request that you receive a donation
amount of $ 5 million dollars. As i wishes to donate part of my Jackpot
as I thank God for all as been far for the vacation and new job I have
always needed making this dreams reality. see proof below;
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/24/massachusetts-powerball-jackpot-758-million-lottery
to us and a check for $ 5 million dollars will be issued to you.
Sincerely,
Wanczyk Mavis
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Anti-fraud resources:
