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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 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)
- 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.
- winifred.oyoitafgn@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita" <williamsadams909@gmail.com>
Reply-To: winifred.oyoitafgn@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2019 17:37:01 +0100
Subject: YOUR FUNDS HAS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ATM VISA CARD
RE : YOUR FUNDS HAS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ATM VISA CARD
Dear ​Sir/Ma
This is to bring to your notice that $5.5Million United States Dollars
was programmed on your name via ATM VISA CARD as part payment of your
unclaimed Inheritance /Lottery Winning Prize. The debit card can be
used on any ATM machine all over the world or you can go to your bank
to off-load the funds.
If interested in receiving your Visa card kindly reconfirm your name,
address. contact phone number Others information will be communicating
to you on next reply on how your card will be ship to you.
REPLY TO THIS EMAIL: winifred.oyoitafgn@gmail.com
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita
Director of Finance And Head of Civil Service Commission
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Anti-fraud resources:
