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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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.
- frankn528@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS MELANIA THOMPSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankn528@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2020 22:06:02 +0100
Subject: Re; Good news, Funds Beneficiary,
I write this letter to you based on our board of Directors meeting
held yesterday to release your unpaid Funds $14.5 Million USD through
the Bank method so it will be transferred directly to your Bank
account to avoid any more delay. because of this Corona Virus Covid 19 ok.
Now Contact Mr.Frank Green via the following
information below:
Mr. Frank Green
Telephone NUMBER text + 18434665184
CONTACT.EMAIL( frankn528@gmail.com
Do reconfirm the following information to Frank Green to avoid wrong mistake:
Your Name:..........
Your Address:.......
Your Telephone Number:.....
Your Age:.........
Your Country:.........
Your occupation......
ID If Available:::::
We told Mr Frank Green that you will contact him soon for the release
transfer of
your Funds into your account.
Thanks
Yours In Service
MRS MELANIA THOMPSON
FIDRFKRIUMCIKSHMUNXNSOQILSROFOLCPZQMQX
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Anti-fraud resources:
