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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- chimezie.madueke@writeme.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: CM <chimezie.madueke1@outlook.com>
Reply-To: chimezie.madueke@writeme.com, chimezie.madueke@writeme.com
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 11:32:37 +0100
Subject: SOS
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For your attention
My names are Chimezie Madueke. I am the son of Mrs Deziani
Alison-Madueke who was former Petroleum minister of Nigeria under former
President, Goodluck Jonathan's Administration.
I have a business that involves a huge amount of money which belongs to
my mum that i will want to put in your care. My mum is currently facing
persecution from the corrupt government of Muhammad Buhari of Nigeria
and there is need to act fast on this deal to secure the funds. I need a
capable and reliable hand to help in successful execution of the deal.
If you are that person then get back to me.
Chimezie
chimezie.madueke@writeme.com
PS..Please handle with utmost discretion. I do not want any 3rd party to
know about my contacting you so that my plans is not in any way revealed
to the Buhari government that is after my Mum
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Anti-fraud resources: