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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Johnson Cole <mauricealakiii@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnsoncole98928@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2020 23:01:34 +0100
Subject: Request
Dear Friend
I am Mr. Johnson Cole a personal attorney to a foreign national who
died of heart attack 2012 without any registered next of kin as he was
long divorced and had no child. My client left behind (US$5.7Million)
Five million seven hundred thousand united states dollars.
The bank had issued me a notice to come forward for the claim or have
his account confiscated, Since I have been unsuccessful in locating
any relatives of my deceased client, I contacted you because you have
the same last name with him and you can perfectly fit as next of kin
to My late client. We can work together as partner to enable us claim
the fund and share it 50/50 I will give you more details as soon as I
hear from you.
Best Regards
Mr. Johnson Cole
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Anti-fraud resources:
