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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- info_frankdavis@mail2president.com (Mail2president; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Frank Davis" <info@lee.org>
Reply-To: info_frankdavis@mail2president.com
Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2019 08:46:57 +0800
Subject: Possible Spam : INFORMATION
Dear Sir/Madam,
I Write to inform you that the new Government of President Muhammadu
Buhari has reversed and Credited with instant order.
I therefore urge to inform you that your name appears in Nigeria News
paper for those that Nigeria Government owes.
You are by this notice required to send me your details for immediate
wire transfer of your fund to your Account.
Also call me immediately you receive this message.
Regards
Ms Jama Jennifer
Secretory to
Frank Davis
Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
For more information, please directly contact the
Mr. Frank Davis, Official email:info_frankdavis@mail2president.com
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This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
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Anti-fraud resources: