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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- urkovv53@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Iurkov Vladimir" <test@spam.com>
Reply-To: lurkovv53@mail.ee
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:02:36 -0700
Subject: HELLO
Dear Sir, My names are Iurkov Vladimir, a citizen of Russia and a businessm=
an. I need your urgent assistance to secure and re-profile my existing busi=
ness investment funds valued at (Nine hundred and fifty million US dollars)=
currently secured in a security company Since the current war and senseles=
s invasion of Ukraine by our president Vladimir Putin, most of the prominen=
t Russian Oligarchs and business assets outside Russia have been blackliste=
d and seized by the western governments. Most innocent Russian business own=
ers and assets in foreign banks have been targeted in the past few months a=
nd many more are expected to go down. Click on this link below for further =
clarifications and confirmations: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-=
10572679/Fury-Roman-Abramovich-oligarchs-offload-billions-assets-without-fa=
cing- sanctions.html I have therefore been advised by my trusted insider an=
d Financial Consultants in Europe, to hasten up and nominate a beneficiary =
before the next few days to avoid seizure and loss of my investment funds. =
Upon your urgent response, once we agree to move forward as partners more i=
nfo will be given. Please Keep all confidential as we sincerely pray for th=
e urgent end to this senseless WAR and PEACE to Ukraine. I await your urgen=
t response. Yours sincerely, Iurkov Vladimir Reach Me on my email address l=
urkovv53@gmail.com
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