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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Mimi Nicolas" <00josu@ono.com>
Reply-To: mrsmimnicolas02@gmx.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2019 03:08:33 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Hello Dear Friend
Hello Dear
Friend
I am Mrs. Mimi Nicolas
sending this brief letter for
your partnership to
transfer $9.5 million US Dollars. the money left by most of the greedy
Asia
Politicians they used our bank to launder money overseas through the
help of their Political advisers. Most of the funds
which they
Transferred out of the shores of Asia Kuwait were gold and oil money, can you invest this money and also help the poor ?
I shall send you more information
and procedures when I receive positive response from you. the fund
will be transfer to you through atm visa card or wire transfer direct bank to
bank.
Awaiting to hear from you.
My regard
Mrs. Mimi Nicolas
Manager in HSBC bank in Spain Madrid
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Anti-fraud resources:
