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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- edwardwillsonj@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Carol Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrswilliamsc@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 19 May 2018 18:58:16 -0000
Subject: Acknowledge this message
Dear Trusted Friend,
My name is Mr. Edward Wilson personal account to late Mr. Freeman Shumani owner Shumani farms Harare Ltd, Zimbabwe Southern Africa he was affected by former President Mugabes for land reform acts which is deprived him rights in all facets.
I apologize for inconveniences this message may bring especially coming from complete strangers. He deposited huge amount of money $48.725 Million dollars,in our bank here in abroad, with the name of his foreign partner Late Mr. James King he died of cancer last two years without claiming the fund he is from your country. Now both of them are no more.
This funds is due for claim to anyone who can give the Bank every information of the account and the fund will be transfer to the person and i am willing and ready to give to you all the information needed. I am willing and ready to disbursed or shared in these percentages 45% to me and 45% to you and 10% to cover all expenses. All I need is to upload your names to the documents and legalize at the High Court in order to prove you.
So long you promise me that the funds will be safe in your account over there in your country.
If you are interested do get back to me so that we can proceed.
You may wish to read about the problems in Zimbabwe through the following links clearing any doubt proposition to ascertain my reasons of contacting you and the situation and really will appreciate if you will assist me. This business is 100% risk free.
http://news.bbc.co..uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6448559.stm
Reply to my private email: ( edwardwillsonj@yahoo.fr )
Waiting for your urgent response
Yours Truly,
Mr. Edward Wilson.
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