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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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- informail466@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Taiwo Abidogun." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <informail466@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2018 09:17:14 +0100
Subject: I wait your swift response
From Federal Ministry of Justice
HQ Plot 71B Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama Abuja
Nigeria
Hello Dear
Can you present me as your representative to get your fund out with
Nigeria Government and this must be secret within us.You will be
surprised how I got across this information.I shall detail you once you get back
to me.I will appreciate you to resend to my your current telephone
number and your current address.Therefore all further communications
base on this transaction should be through this my email id
informail466@gmail.com
for security purpose.Just be rest assured your fund will be in your
account if you will be free to communicate with me.
I awaiting your swift response.
Regards,
Mr.Taiwo Abidogun.
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Anti-fraud resources:
