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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- ben_patrick2020@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Johnson Ocholi Amaje" <a7a11629@telus.net>
Reply-To: "Mr. Ben" <ben_patrick2020@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2018 03:46:10 -0700 (MST)
Subject: I want you to contact my secretary
Dear friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in transferred that fund $185. Million Dollars now; I want you to contact my secretary on the information below:
NAME; Mr. Ben Patrick
EMAIL: ben_patrick2020@yahoo.com
Ask him to send you the total sum of ($5.5 Million United State Dollars) Five million Five hundred thousand United State Dollars in a bank draft,for your share which I kept for your compensation.
So feel free to contact him with your information below avoid wrong delivery
Full Name:
Home Address:
Occupation:
Cell Phone
Country:
Age:
Please contact him with this information above for the registration of the bank draft. Thanks for your help and I will stop here again. You let me know immediately you receive it. I am waiting for the good news from you.
Regards,
Dr. Johnson Ocholi Amaje.
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