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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- contjrnn@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mace David <david@unitedmoving-storage.com>
Reply-To: contjrnn@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2020 15:48:31 -0500
Subject: GOOD DAY.
Good day,
My name is David Griffith. I got your contact from the directory of
companies in the city. I would like to request your help to transfer
$18.3 million deposited by my deceased client. I want you to claim this
fund as a close relative of my client. I can not claim it directly.
I will re-profile the certificate of deposit so that you can sand as the
next of kin to the deceased, so that the bank can transfer the funds to
you. 40% of the total money will be for you after the successful
transfer. I shall visit you in your country thereafter.
Kindly include your phone number for easier communication in your reply
if you can be of help to me.
I look forward to receiving your prompt reply.
Regards,
Barr. David Griffith
Reply to my private email address: contjrnn@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources: