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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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "DEAR BELOVED (FROM MRS.PARK)" <alphadelphine54@gmail.com>
Reply-To: hmmyou10@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2023 18:59:11 +0000
Subject: CALL FOR HELP SO READ AND REPLY.
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Dear beloved one,
With due respect, I am 65 Years old widow Mrs. HYEYOUNG PARKâ (South
Koreaân)ââ âpresently hospitalized, suffering from multiple cancer
which has defied all medical treatment.â âDoctor said I have few time
to live on and I know you will feel for me, but the best thing you can
do for me now is to help me with my last wish for the less privileged
with âmy remaining wealth of over US$1Million dollars cash and 20
Kilogram of Gold bars for charity and humanitarian projects. Knowing
the unsafe nature of the internet but was compelled to use it due to
the urgency. Reply me if interested for more information âon to
receive it as my sole trustee/benefactor. Thank you and God bless you.
Best regards,
Mrs. HYEYOUNG PARK.
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Anti-fraud resources: