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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:
- "huge deposit" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Joseph Wilman <jokaibe02@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Joseph Wilman <laga99@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2018 00:17:21 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Good day,
Good day,
I am Joseph Wilman.
I have emailed you earlier few weeks ago without any response from you.
On my first email I mentioned about my late client whose relatives I cannot get in touch with. But both of you have the same last name so it will be very easy to front you as his official next of kin.
I am compelled to do this because I would not want the bank to push my clients funds into their treasury as unclaimed funds. If you are interested you do let me know so that I can give you Comprehensive details on what we are to do.
My late client made a huge deposit in bank here and we must work to claim his funds before the bank will push it to their treasure as unclaimed funds. I await your immediate response
Yours faithfully,
Joseph Wilman.
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Anti-fraud resources:
