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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:
- "markgrey78@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND <felizbryan8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Markgrey78@outlook.com
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2023 12:41:37 -0700
Subject: URGENT REPLY
Dear Fund owner,
We want to inform you that the International Monetary Fund authorized
our bank to release your overdue contract inheritance payment fund
amounted $2.5million to you, Though the fund originated from Europe
but from all the indications, the people in charge of your payment
failed woefully to release your fund to you after all your effort to
claim it thus, The IMF and UN decided to hand your fund over to our
bank here in the states(US bank) so it can be paid to you via bank to
bank wire transfer or online banking depending the method of payment
preferable to you.
You are hereby warned to stop whatever communications you are having
with group of persons or person in regards to your fund because they
will continue to demand money from you with no fruition.
Get back to us immediately for more directives on information we
shall be needing from you so your fund can be released to you via bank
to bank wire payment or online banking which will enable you to access
your fund and also transfer it from your online account to any bank
account of your choice.
Make your reply to *****Markgrey78@outlook.com*****
Regards
Mr. Mark Grey
Payment Director
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Anti-fraud resources:
