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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:
- "00,000.00" (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: "Mrs. Jane" <annl10390c@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mbrons667@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 15:28:18 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend
My name Mrs. Jane. I live in London-UK. I was diagnosed with blood
cancer and the doctor said I had a few weeks to live. I came across
your email contact through a private search and I really need your
kind help in carrying out a charity project. I have a proposal and
request for you to help me fulfill my dreams and desire to build an
orphanage in your country to support and help poor and motherless
children. I am glad to do this because of the fact that I grew up as
an orphan and to please God.
I have a project account worth (£4,800,000.00) in an international
bank and I decided to inherit you the fund to fulfill my dreams and
desire to implement charity projects, which is impossible for me to
carry out the mission due to my health condition. If you have a good
heart to help make these dreams of mine come true, please reply for
more details so that I can direct you to the bank, as I have already
spoken to the bank manager to release the fund for you urgently.
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Anti-fraud resources:
