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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.
- 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.
- smithagentscott@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Agent Scott Smith <rogersmrpaul0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: smithagentscott@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2020 07:04:09 +0100
Subject: RELEASE OF YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT.TREAT AS URGENT
Our Ref CODE:CBN/SB46/00852
smithagentscott@gmail.com
Attn. Beneficiary.
I am Special Agent Scott Smith and am here in Nigeria as an FBI agent
that has been delegated to investigate this fraudsters who are in the
business of swindling Foreigners that came for transaction in Nigeria .
Please be informed that during my investigation, I found out that,
there was amount worth US$12.5 million that has been assigned in your name(
Beneficiary.) and this fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope
of receiving your fund.
NOTE:We have commenced on operation in releasing these funds to the owners.
We have to inform you that we have made some arrest in respect to this
delayed over due fund. I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here
so I advise you urgently respond to this message .
I'm expecting your response as soon as you receive this email. Please.
Note that I have attached my Identification to this email. do not inform
any of the people that collected money from you before now about this new
development to avoid jeopardizing our investigation.
Best Regard,
AGENT SCOTT SMITH
smithagentscott@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
