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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- agentmrsjoydptseated2015@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS JOY EZE <peculiarfamily1983@gmail.com>
Reply-To: agentmrsjoydptseated2015@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2015 00:18:27 +0100
Subject: beneficiary
DESK OF MRS JOY PRAISE
FIRST BANK PLC, LAGOS NIGERIA.
Your Name And Your Contact Details Was Given To This Office In Respect
Of Your Total inherited/Contract Sum Owed To You Which You Have Failed
To Claim Because Of Either Non-Compliance Of Official Processes Or
Because Of Your Unbelief Of The Reality Of Your Genuine Payment.
Kindly contact me on the following e-mail:
agentmrsjoydptseated2015@gmail.com
for the processing of release of
your inheritance via ATM CARD
kindly be advised that you will be responsible for the payment release
/ delivery fee of your inheritance usnig dhl
cost $142,
send fee via Money Gram to
receiver: Joy Ogueri
address: abuja nigeria
question: color
answer: red
amount: $142
Reply this email along with your personal information and sender's info
Your full names
Your house address
Your ID CARD / drivers lisence
Your Mobile number
Sex
Your occupation
Thank you
Mrs Praise
My Office line : +234: 8120958068
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Anti-fraud resources: