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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "offix876@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARRY MOORE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ceo.billgates@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2018 16:33:01 -0800
Subject: GET BACK TO ME ASAP...18/12/2018..Blessing
Good day to you and how are you doing today? this is just to inform
you that i have been waiting for your response to my e-mail since my
previous e-mail to you but i was surprised you have not responded back
to my messages hope all is well with you over there?
Secondly i need you to kindly get back to me if truly you know you are
still interested and ready to receive your claim of $12million as soon
as possible so please i will be waiting for your urgent response to my
message.
Barry Moore
offix876@gmx.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
