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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:
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- monicazietsman@webmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Monica Zietsman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <monica.zietsman@webmail.co.za>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2020 16:07:11 +0200
Subject: THANK YOU
Good Day,
My name is Mrs. Monica , Zietsman wife of late Dr..Colin Zietsman a white farmer from Zimbabwe. Please i want you to assist me to invest USD 18.5 Million which i inherited from my late husband who was assassinated by Robert Mugabe's aides in view of acquiring our lands and properties. I got to know of this fund when our family lawyer, approached me few months ago with some documents that my late husband had filed with him, I realized that my late husband has written "will" which he specifically pointed my attention. I have no business idea, my life and children lives depend on this fund I would like you to help me get this fund invested in your country where my children will further their education. "PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL BELOW" email me at (monicazietsman@webmail.co.za)
Best Regards
Mrs. Monica Zietsman
For more info visit: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2184459.stm
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Anti-fraud resources:
