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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: MR KEVIN MCALEENAN <masao223@sea.plala.or.jp>
Reply-To: kmcaleenan@yandex.com
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2019 02:47:26 +0900
Subject: I am Mr. Kevin McAleenan
I am Mr. Kevin McAleenan . The secretary, to the US department of homeland
security
Washington DC, I am writing to you regarding your Bank check draft
worth $20 million dollars. So kindly get back to me
Ok am here with
your bank check draft worth $20 million dollars from gtbank and it will
be delivered to your door step so all you have to do now is to get back
to me with your full current address for the delivery of the check to
avoid wrong delivered to the wrong person okay so am waiting for the
information below such as your full name .........
Your home address.........
Your registered phone number.......
Your current email address..........
And your identity card for verification..............
Thank you for your understanding
Best Regard
Mr. Kevin McAleenan
Secretary to department of homeland security
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Anti-fraud resources:
