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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Harry Carl" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <harry09276534@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2019 16:21:02 -0000
Subject: Ref: Partnership Deal.
Hello
My name is Harry Carl a banker working with HSBC I have a deal proposal for you, I happen to be the account officer to an unclaimed funds of 85,700,000.00 USD (Eighty Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) in our bank. Of one late Mr. Williams who before now made some supply for electrical wires to a reputable electrical wiring company. His bank draft has been cleared into his account.
But the last I heard from him was he been involved in the Norway shooting victims some years ago in Norway and I have tried to get across to any of the family members all to no avail.
Now here is The deal , I will present you as the next of kin , accredit your information as the legitimate beneficiary to his account with back up of the legal approval documents to enable you claim these funds. In accordance with next of kin acts Part VI of the Act — Distribution on Intestacy (sections 66–75).
Once the funds are transferred to your account we can share a 50/50 ratio, I wait your acceptance for more details. Please if you are not willing and interested in helping me kindly delete this e-mail from your computer and pretend you never got it.
Regards
Mr. Harry Carl.
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Anti-fraud resources: