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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)
- 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.
- antc360@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: info@slugmaster.se
Reply-To: antc360@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2017 05:54:58 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Mr. Anthony Chua, I am a trained external auditor working for Maybank Asia.
A late investor who bears the same last name with you has left ($45.5Million) with Our Bank for the past Eight years without next of kin.
I want to use my insider leverage to work with you, since you have the same last Name with the Late Investor, we can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government. This exactly is why I crave your participation and cooperation.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail via my private EMAIL :(antc360@yahoo.com) and treat with absolute confidentiality.
Best Regards.
Anthony Chua.
Reply
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Anti-fraud resources:
