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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:
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- zyming010101@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Zheng Yuming" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zyming010101@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 05:21:45 -0700
Subject: Business Assistance
Dear Sir
E-MAIL: zyming010101@gmail.com
I am Zheng Yuming; the Internal Auditor of The Bank Of China Beijing Branch 2 Chqoyangmenneidajie Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
I am in contact with you to advice on lucrative areas of investment in your country for unclaimed funds of US$330,000,000.00 ( Three Hundred and Thirty Million United State Dollars) in an escrow account with my bank.
You will also be required.
(1) To Assist in the transfer of the said sum to your account
(2) Advise on lucrative areas for investment in your country.
Should you have the managerial ability and capacity to handle this project; please forward your Telephone/Fax so we can proceed.
Best Regards,
Zheng Yuming
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Anti-fraud resources:
