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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- st9334134@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Susan Thomas <st9334134@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2023 11:47:18 +0200
Subject: introduce myself to you
I am an account officer with reputable bank here in Rep of Cote d'Ivoire ;
I would love to build up a solid foundation with you in time coming if you
can be able to help me in this business proposal. Listen, the total sum of
US18, 500,000.00 Million Dollars I Hoped that you will not betray this
trust and confident that I am about to repose on you for the mutual benefit
of our both families So this is the reason why I contacted you, so that
with me giving you all his information we can release the money to you as
the nearest person to the deceased customer. Please I would like you to
keep this proposal as top secret and delete if you are not interested. Upon
receipt of your reply, I will send you full detail on how the business will
be executed. Please if you're willing to participate with me and secure
this fund for our both benefit kindly reply me
yours sincerely, Mrs Susan Thomas
Please reply me only with this my private email id:st9334134@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources: