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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.
- 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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- richardnorris1958@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Richard Norris" <anne-sophie.smets@centrale-marseille.fr>
Reply-To: richardnorris1958@mail.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 02:37:42 +0200
Subject: Important - Business proposal
Greetings,
My name is Mr. Richard Norris, I am a banker by profession and I am
the chief account officer to Late Mr. Lam Kok who died in helicopter
crash in France while inspecting one of his new acquisitions.
I have the opportunity of making you the beneficiary to his deposited
funds with our bank.I have all the details and required information to
make you the beneficiary to the funds.Get back to me for more details
about the deal only if you are interested in actualizing this deal
with me.
Please contact me via email - richardnorris1958@mail.com
Regards,
Mr. Richard Norris
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Anti-fraud resources:
