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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.
- 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.
- webbthms@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Webb Thomas <jean-francois.papi@mediaserv.net>
Reply-To: <fileoff0@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2019 06:25:54 +0000
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED
--
FROM IRS COMMISSIONER Mr Webb Thomas
U.S.A IRS Address:1111 Constitution Ave,NW Washington, DC 20224
Greetings From The Internal Revenue Service United States of America.
Your total funds worth $87.5 million USD will be delivered to your home
address Via USPS
Your Funds has been deposited with USPS already so kindly update us
with Your home
address, Your telephone Number is needed
1. Your Full Name which you prefer we use when shipping your
funds============
2. Your Current mailing (Delivery) Address where your fund should be
mailed to=========
3. Your Private Mobile Number for the Priority Express Mail to Contact
you when they arrive at your door step============
4. Your direct telephone Number============
5. Your private Email address ==========
9. Sex/ age===
10. Country:==
Reply this email with the below contact details immediately you receive
this
email for immediate shipment of your funds.
Yours Sincerely,
IRS Commissioner,
Mr Webb Thomas
E-mail: webbthms@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources: