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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: jmaes Henry <isaacisaacv8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnwayneofficemonday@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:16:44 -0700
Subject: FEDERAL RESERVE BANK, NEW YORK
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breaking news form northwest
Alabama this message from furniture bank office I'm here to inform you
that you have $13,8 Million Dollars in furniture bank office we have
already verify this money clean then we confirm that this money
belong to you dear we was trying to reach you out since last week ago
but we can't get you please I want you to send me email back once you
receive my own email now because we are getting confusion right now in
our office the reason why we are getting confusion because some three
ladies just come to our office this afternoon start complaining that
you have serious attack heart and you are living with doctor at
hospital since last two month ago
you are living with doctor because of the sickness of your body so
after the three ladies told us this story we are getting confused now
we are planning to handle the funds over to the three ladies so. is
truth ? that you are sicking or not before we will handle the boxes
over to them
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Anti-fraud resources:
