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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.
- 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.
- mrabrahambenaim@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Abraham Benaim." <iwww@joy.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: <howardwatsondj@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2017 10:48:01 -0800
Subject: PLEASE CONFIRM
Dear Sir/Madam
Based on the good recommendation i was fed about you by one of the
official of the bank where you have an account
compelled me to write you this day. I have a very good business
proposal for you which will be of a great interest
for which upon your timely confirmation of this mail,I will furnish
you details/ My client want to invest USD$34.8M
or grant it as a loan to you for mutual investment benefit etc. I
await your confirmation of this mail for more
detail info.
Best regards.
Mr.Abraham Benaim.
Email: mrabrahambenaim@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
