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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "REV.FR.ROBERT WALE" <missmarcyakpata@gmail.com>
Reply-To: delabishop74@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2023 08:42:27 +0100
Subject: Calvary greetings to you my dear brethren.
Calvary greetings to you my dear brethren.
I hope you are doing good today by the Grace of GOD, I am, Rev. Father
Robert Wale account Officer of Late. Eng.John W Weller Jr, I am here
to notify you that your email address and phone number was filled as
his "Next Of Kin" He died in Terrorist attacked in Northern part of
the country and none of his relatives have not come for his wealth so
I made up my mind to inform you about this so you can stand as his
Next Of Kin to claim this fund of 3.5 Million USA Dollars only and all
the documents to back up the claim will be obtain in your name.
Thanks and God bless you
Awaits your urgent reply
Rev.Fr. Robert Wale.
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Anti-fraud resources:
