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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- valdavis915@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Valentine Davis" <federalhighcourt501@gmail.com>
Reply-To: valdavis915@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2022 00:22:14 +0100
Subject: UNCLAIMED FUND NOTIFICATION
ATTENTION FROM DHL COURIER SERVICE.
PLEASE: ARE YOU ALIVE OR DEAD ???
The reason for this question is that we received an email from
Mr Jude Thomas and He said that your dead but before that you given him
Letter of Authorization to claim your (5.3MillionUS Dollars.) before your
death... furthermore, we told him what still holding the delivery
which is the delivery fee of $125 dollars meanwhile the package
was approved to delivery in your favor. so my dear
if you"re still alive i will like you to get back to me ASAP
and your also required to get back with your following information:
FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
Don't Forget To Reply This Email Only:
( valdavis915@gmail.com ) Or Text me
we asked him to call back on Monday, so that we can confirm
from you first. Are you aware of this? The only money you will pay to
our office here is just $125 for the paper works, Take note of this
now. so that we can stop further communication with Mr Jude Thomas and
deliver the (Consignment Box) to your door step being the original
benefactor of the $5.3Million US Dollars.
Best regards: Mr. Valentine Davis
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Anti-fraud resources:
