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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 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.
- melaniatrump920@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Melania Trump" <officefiles10@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: melaniatrump920@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2019 01:34:33 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Congratulation To You Dear Beneficiary Of US$60 Million Dollars
Greetings My Dear,How Are Doing Today.
I am Mrs. Melania Trump and I am written to inform you about your Bank
Check Draft brought by United Embassy from the government of Benin
Republic to the white house Washington DC and has been mandated to be
deliver to your address as soon as you get back to me with your below
information.
You Have To Reply Back To My Official Email {melaniatrump920@gmail.com}
Full name.................................
Home address:.........................
Phone number.........................
You check is containing the sum of US$60 million dollars.
Here is my number.(+1(206) 629-2520) you can call me or send me an sms,
but I prefer sms because I'm always busy in the white house and I cant be
able to pick calls all the time. I will be waiting to hear from you
immediately, Congratulation To You Once Again Thanks And God Bless You.
Sincerely
Mrs. Melania Trump
First Lady
Email:: {melaniatrump920@gmail.com}
Number::(+1(206) 629-2520)
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Anti-fraud resources:
