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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- cindysnell1010@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Fredrick Ibee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cindysnell1010@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2019 14:18:18 -0800
Subject: USD$850,000 USD
Dear Friend,
Contact my secretary For your USD$850,000 USD
been your compensation fund for your effort
to assist me in the past Though we did not
succeed then.
But with the help of a new partner from United
States i was able to complete the project.
I decided to compensate you with this little
amount US$850,000 for your effort to assist
me in the past feel free to contact my secretary
with the below information as stated for your
compensation i left in her desk on your behalf.
Contact person: Mrs. Cindy Snell
Email: cindysnell1010@gmail.com
+229-694-459-56
According to the instruction i gave her you are
supposed to visit her in person to get the fund.
Should incase you can not travel abroad please
take note that she can use diplomatic delivery
means or you have to let her know the means you
prefare to use in getting the amount USD$850,000
Take note you are going to take care of the delivery
expenses hence you feel you can not travel to Benin
Republic West Africa for your claim so take note.
Regards.
Mr. Fredrick Ibee
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