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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:
- "million us 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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Jerome Leslie" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kylensmoak@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2021 23:28:59 -0800
Subject: My Co-Partnership
Found you listed in the World Trade Chambers of Commerce directory of your country. I am Dr.Jerome Leslie from Republic of Haiti, this is brief letter to solicit your partnership, to invest Twenty Five million US Dollars in your country under the conditions that,
1. My fund is held securely.
2. I am willing to invest immediately.
3. I will pay you a commission of 30% for your logistics and protocols.
4. I desire absolute confidentiality in the handling and management of this brief.
I shall send you more information and details of procedures when I receive positive response from you.
Best Regards
Dr.Jerome Leslie
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Anti-fraud resources:
