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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:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- 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.
- fbidirector958@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: FBI director <"www."@sand.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: FBI director <fbidirector958@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2017 06:04:02 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Please confirm to me if she is wrong
Good Day,
My names is Mr.Andrew McCabe the new FBI DIRECTOR, I am written to know if is true because Mrs. Deborah Trotter Your friend call and texted me right now, she stated that you have motor accident and you are on your way going to hospital right now,She told my agent (James William) that you want him to deliver it to her as your next of kin and your attorney.
You have to call or sms me right now because she have email Federal
High Court for them to give her all information she need to use
travel down to Benin Republic and pay all the fee and have (James William Your delivery agent) to deliver your ATM CARD to her Address.
Please confirm to me if she is wrong or is true because National Assemble under the new regimes of Africa Government has decided to handle this issue and have her arrested fraud attempt.
We are trying to compensate you as one of scam victims who lost his/her fund and Federal Government Benin Republic stated that you have 24hours to proof her
wrong before they will give final order to deliver your stuff to her name.
Your Sincerely
Mr.Andrew McCabe
FBI DIRECTOR E-mail, (fbidirector958@gmail.com).
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