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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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "certificate fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: CHRISTOPHER A WRAY <cwray685@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mortangjames@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:31:00 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION
--
I a writing to confirm the fact if you are (DEAD) or (ALIVE) and
failure to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Mr Jude
Betsy said about you was perfectly right and truth that you are dead
and also Mr Jude Betsy has agreed to pay the needed charge fee valued
of fee required for the Airport Clearance Certificate Fee of your
consignment box , but we have not gotten the money from him yet as we
want to find out if you are DEAD or not, so if you are still (ALIVE)
you are advice in your own best interest to reply back, The only money
you will pay to our office here is just fee for the paper works, Take
note of this now, so we can stop further communication with Mr Jude
Betsy once we hear from you, that you still alive and deliver the
(Consignment Box) to your door step being the original benefactor of
the $10.5 Million US Dollars. Be the reassurance that once we hear
from you with this payment information of fee i promise that your
delivery will takes place all is requested is'FULL NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER
OCCUPATION
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Anti-fraud resources:
