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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:
- "million us 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.
- 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.
- sgt.bakerthomas@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "SERGENT Baker Thomas"<admin@medslsrehab.com>
Reply-To: Sgt.BakerThomas@usa.com
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2019 02:43:36 +0100
Subject: Urgent Assistance Needed
Good Day Dearest,
My name is Sergeant, Baker Thomas and I am a member of NATO-ISAF Task Forc=
e and Provincial Reconstruction Troops in Southern Afghanistan.
I am a US Army here in Southern Afghanistan. I have 8.5 Million US Dollars =
($8. 500.000.00) in my possession. which I got from one of our raids in one=
of the terrorist attack bombers abode here in (KABUL). =
WE DID NOT PART WITH THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE NECESSARY AUTHORITIES=
RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. =
So I deposited this money with a Red Cross Agent informing him that I am ma=
king contact for the real owner of the money and it is under my power to ap=
prove whoever comes forth for the money.
I want to invest the money in a good business as soon as my service here en=
ds. Anyway you will advice me on that since I am not a business person.
I am solely interested in making a life for my two daughters and therefore =
I shall require the service of a person who is trustworthy and sincere and =
I am going to make you the beneficiary of the money and allowing you to inv=
est for my Kids in case anything happens to me here.
so I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the money to you through a=
courie service. I just need your acceptance and all is done.
Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication=
facilities that are secured so nobody can monitor our emails, then I can e=
xplain in details to you.
Hope to read from you urgent reply soonest.
Thanks
Sergeant Baker Thomas =
U.S Army Afghanistan
Email: Sgt.BakerThomas@usa.com=20
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Anti-fraud resources:
