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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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- johnwilms@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- .mr. john budman so we can proceed.email:(officecontact= .johnwilms@gmail.com) take note.be aware that you are the only person l= eft to (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: JOHN BUDMAN <jbudmani@banker.com>
Reply-To: <officecontact.johnwilms@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2018 15:30:52 +1000
Subject: PLEASE CONTACT ME NOW.
Attention: This is to notify you that your $3.5 million fund has been pr=
ogrammed for immediate release via ATM card courier service delivery.Your A=
TM card is already activated and your pin NO is 6312.kindly provide us with=
Note, that you must reconfirm your Full names /Address and valid phone# to=
enable him deliver your ATM CARD to you without any mistake.The Name of th=
e delivery agent is .MR. John Budman so we can proceed.Email:(officecontact=
.johnwilms@gmail.com) TAKE NOTE.Be aware that you are the only person l=
eft to receive your ATM Card out of the (6) Six beneficiaries. OUR DESIRE=
IS TO SERVING YOU BETTER.WAITING YOUR URGENT REPLY VIA MY EMAIL ADDRESS. =
officecontact.johnwilms@gmail.com YOURS FAITHFULLY, Regards MR. JOHN =
BUDMAN Union Bank of Nigeria ATM Delivery
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Anti-fraud resources:
