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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.
- dougglasmith@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Douglas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dougglasmith@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 04:29:15 -0800
Subject: For Your Urgent Notification
Hello Dear,
Complement of the seasons..Happy New Year to you.
This message will be the Last Notification I will send to you as my earlier letters to you was returned undelivered. Hence I decided to reach you via email hence this information needs urgent attention of yours. I'm contacting you because you bear the same surname just like our deceased client who died few year ago. And for the past few bank working days till date the management of our bank has issued me a notice to provide an immediate or extended Family member or next of kin to the deceased customer or have the Escrow Call Account confiscated within the next 14 banking days. Hence I am the Telex Department Manager of my bank branch and also the personal account officer to the deceased. I will be disappointed if the labor of my deceased client is confiscated. So kindly get back to me with your full contact information such as:
1. Your Full Name:.................................
2. Your Address: ..................................
3. Nationality:....................................
4. Telephone ....................And Mobile No:...........
5. Country of Residence:...........................
6. Occupation:.....................................
7. Marital Status:...................Age:.........
While I shall advise you step by step on how to apply for the claims and collection of the funds either by cash delivery or by Bank wire transfer to any safe designated bank account of yours.
With Care.
Douglas Smith
Please Reply to my private email: dougglasmith@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
