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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "'Edwin Robotka' via 419trap" <419trap@biographiks.com>
Reply-To: Edwin Robotka <edwinosmanrobotka1957@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 14 May 2018 00:26:56 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: HAPPY SUNDAY MY FRIEND.
Hello My Friend,
  PLEASE KEEP THIS TOP SECRET   How are you and your family doing today? My name is Edwin Robotka. I am working at Barclays Bank as Operations Manager. I am writing you this letter with trust and hope as you know that trust brings us together as a family.
I have discovered a large amount of fund deposited in our bank by one of our investors who lost his life due to a heart attack a few years ago. I would like you to contact the bank as the next of kin to our bank investor who passed away a few years ago to allow the transfer of money to you, then I will fly down to your Country to meet you for the sharing of money.Â
I will have 70% of the total fund while you will have 30%. Please don't let this opportunity pass I have successful photocopy the deposit certificate which I Â will send to you and you forward it to Bank as next of kin to Bank late investor.
PLEASE KEEP THIS SECRET FROM YOUR FAMILY AND ANYONE AROUND YOU AND DO NOT LET MY BANK KNOWS THAT I'M WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH YOU.
Kindly indicate your interest by returning of message through my direct Email:Â operations_manager2018@outlook.com
Best Regards.
Mr. Edwin RobotkaÂ
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Anti-fraud resources:
