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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 us 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: "Mr. Gary Colbert " <yokotaz@apost.plala.or.jp>
Reply-To: colbert_gary@aol.com
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:44:43 +0900
Subject: Donation
My brethren in Christ my name is Mr. Gary Colbert. I am an owner of
Bieber company limited in New York and I have a house in California I
also have a hotel in NY, in my account I have 80 million US dollars. I
have a very big investment in the USA. I also have a company in
Poland. I am an orphan, I have no brother or sister. But I really have
a problem, I have a kidney problem and my doctor said that I have only
3 months to leave in the world so my brethren in Christ and I asked
God if I die today who will inherit my wealth and I have decided to
help the innocent people and the poor people around the world my
brethren in Christ please I am here to bless everyone please my
brethren in Christ whatever you need to help your life please my
brethren in Christ just tell me right now I will do it for you I am
here to help you if you need money I will give you money like I said I
have 80 million US dollars in my account I want to share it with the
free people I want to help the innocent people, please anything you
need just let me know I am ready to help thank you my brethren in
Christ.
Sincerely
Gary Colber
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Anti-fraud resources:
