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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:
- 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 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.
- info323@163.com (163; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Nutella SPA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info323@163.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2017 12:44:55 +0200
Subject: Urgent Compensation
Attention,
This is to inform you of an urgent compensation award which will benefit your entire family and your local community. I am currently undergoing medical treatment as my team doctors told me that I have few years to live due to coronary artery disease (CAD). Having known my condition, I have decided to donate for charitable cause to help the motherless and for the assistance of the less privileged.
Here are the Contact details of your donation co-ordinator:
Name: Elisha Williams.
Email: info323@163.com
Notification has been announced to your co-ordinator who will guide you through as the beneficiary to this compensation award. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
I have been directed to do this by my late father. I wish you good luck and always pray for me to get better.
In His Arms,
G.F CEO Nutella SPA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
