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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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 united states 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- davidwillims521@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: David Williams <davidwillia602@gmail.com>
Reply-To: davidwillims521@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:50:30 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir / Madam'
Dear Sir / Madam'
My name is Mr David Williams. the director in charge of auditing
and accounting section of (CBA TRUST BANK )with due respect and
regard.I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that
will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction .
During my investigation and auditing in this bank, i came across a
very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on
november 1997 in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his
account with this Bank without any claim either from his family or
relation before my discovery.
I keep this information secret within myself and to enable the whole
plans and idea be successful during the time of transfer , The said
amount was us$70.M (Seventy million united states dollars).
As it may interest you to know that I got your impressive
information through chamber of commerce on foreign business
relations here in USA .
Meanwhile all the whole arrangements to put claim over this fund as
the bonafide next of kin to the deceased client has been put in place
.
In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position
in this country as a civil servant, we are not allowed to operate a
foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side
during the time of transfer because I still work in this bank.
This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or
fellow who will forward claims as the next of and also present a
foreign account where the funds will be re-transferred Please,
you have been advised to keep top secret as i am still in service
and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with
you.
I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you
confirm the money in your account. And ask me to come down to your
country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages
previously indicated and further investment, either in your country or
any country you advice me to invest in .All other necessary
information will send to you when I hear from you.I suggest you get
back to me at ( davidwillims521@gmail.com ) as soon as possible
stating your wish in this deal. Yours faithfully,
Mr David Williams.
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