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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Joyce B" <yautokobis@gmail.com>
Reply-To: filleoffice711@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2023 02:11:44 +0100
Subject: Hello My Dear,
Hello Dear Friend,
My name is Joyce Brandi and I am writing to you from Claremore,
Oklahoma, USA. I am divorced woman of 69 years with a critical health
condition of cardiovascular disease which according to the medical lab
test I have very little time left to live but although I believe in
God for a divine miracle.
I have funds with an offshore bank which I want to transfer to you as
my beneficiary which is a promise I made to God to bless an individual
according to my astrologer prediction because I am a single old woman
who has been abandoned by relatives due to my health.
Reply back to me with this Ref#: MTF-VQ63936/IK and I will give you
the directives to contact the bank for the transfer of the money to
you.
Please let me know if you are in position to receive this funds and
utilize it positively!
I hope to hear from you soon!
Best regards,
Mrs. Joyce Brandi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
