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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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- dr.george_williams@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Linda Raymond" <"ww."@space.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Linda Raymond" <dr.george_williams@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2017 22:21:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Urgent Attention
Urgent Attention
I wish to keep you posted on the outcome of our emergency meeting with the
World Bank president,international monetary fund (IMF) London
Paris club and (UN) I hereby wish to inform you that your
winnings/inheritance payment file has been Signed and forwarded to
United bank for Africa where you will be receiving your funds via
online banking wire transfer which you will need to do by your self at
any computer in your home or office .
Therefore' be advised to contact Dr. George Williams with your
details as listed below to enable the Bank to set up your online
Banking account and send the full account information to you so that
you can be able to proceed immediately on the transferring of your funds
into your personal Bank account in your country without any further delay ok'
Contact person: Dr. George Williams
Email: (dr.george_williams@yahoo.com)
Phone: (+229 997 647 52)
Fill in the below details as requested
(1) Beneficiary Name.......
(2) Country................
(3) City..................
(4) Address...............
(5) Telephone ............
(6) Age...................
(6) Sex...................
(7) Occupation............
(8) I.D C Copy............
Thanks for adhering to this instruction
Reply accordingly for more directives
Mrs. Linda Raymond
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Anti-fraud resources:
