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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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.
- akunimerch1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Kingston Johnson <cjohnsonkingston@gmail.com>
Reply-To: akunimerchltd@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 10:56:25 -0700
Subject: Re: To Supply your products. Provide brochure for evaluation.
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Dear Sir/Madam,
Reference on the products from your website,i write to you because i
have a privileged information of an Organization that want you to
supply your products to them.
I am based in Lagos-Nigeria and if you are interested, let me know as
I will bring all the details to you.
Please not that this a very good opportunity to expand your
business-hence reply me only through this my email
address:akunimerch1@gmail.com
Thank you as I await your prompt and positive response.
Regards,
Kingston Johnson.
Note:Please reply through:akunimerch1@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
