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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:
- "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.
- ecobank537@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: vlad6243@gcn.ua
Reply-To: ecobank537@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2019 19:44:00 +0100
Subject: DEATH OR ALIVE
Hello.
We are writhing to know if it's true that you are DEAD? This is Because
we have received a notification/Authorization from one Mr. Jerry Cook
Williams mandating us to transfer your funds to his Canadian Bank
account.
Be informed that we discovered the said funds in your name through your
Email address. But we are surprise that MR. Mr. Jerry Cook Williams
indicated that you are dead and therefore has requested us to hand over
your funds to him.
Kindly get in touch with us if you are still alive to avoid wrong
payment or diversion of your funds.
Kindly reply via my private office email address only (
ecobank537@gmail.com )
Remain Blessed
Mrs. Diane Rangel
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This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
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Anti-fraud resources:
