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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- sgt.shmccraney@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: SHANNON MCCRAN <dr_ghaomar@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: sgt.shmccraney@usa.com
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2017 13:31:37 +0100
Subject: Sgt. Shann Mcc.
Attn: Sir,
I have gone through some of your country’s investment profile and history and I am interested to invest in it, I will be willing to partner with you and invest a substantial amount of capital in your company if you have an existing company or I can also partner with you to set up a new one.
Do you have a substantial and complete feasibility study and a well prepared business plan on any business you will want me to partner with you.
I believe in pursuing a positive goal, in which your ideas can be enhanced potentially for mutual benefit. As I seek new frontier and opportunities, I am a citizen of the United States of America and a serving special security personnel.
Please reply back to me if you are willing to work with me so that we can begin a project for a reasonable and benefiting profit.
You will realize that our nature of service is a fragile profession whereby we engage on duties with uncertainties; so I need a trustful person to handle this. We shall discuss more on this when I receive your good intentional reply strictly through my regular E-mail address: sgt.shmccraney@usa.com.
Your urgent reply is needed.
Thank Yours
Shann. MCcran
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Anti-fraud resources:
