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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- aminatouzainab@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS. AMINATOU ZAINAB MARKEL <aminatouzainab@gmail.com>
Reply-To: aminatouzainab@mail.com
Date: 5 Jul 2020 16:16:12 -0700
Subject: Attention: Dear friend
Attention: Dear friend,
My regards to you and your family. I am the out going section
manager in a Bank in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. I am writing you
this letter based on the latest discovery in my bank which I will
like to bring to your personal understanding.
It's my urgent pleasure to contact you as a foreign partner to
move this sum of money to your account (US$18,500,000.00)
Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States of American
Dollars in 10 working days as the beneficiary or next of kin to
our deceased customer (Mr. Andreas Schranner) From Germany that
died in a plane accident in 2000 along side with his wife and a
daughter and till now none trace of any next of kin indicated or
located since my bank gave me assignment to look for the next of
kin.
I have agreed to give you 40% out of the total sum of the fund if
you would love to assist me move this fund for investment in your
country.
I shall present you as the next of kin Please show your good
interest by sending to me your full information below,
Expecting your urgent reply as well with your contact details
information below sent to my email aminatouzainab@mail.com.
1. Full name:
2. Current Address:
3. Telephone N°:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Country:
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Regards.
MRS. AMINATOU ZAINAB MARKEL.
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Anti-fraud resources: