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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge sum of money" (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.
- ritagraham777@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rita Graham" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2019 10:47:20 -0800
Subject: Can we do business?
My name is Rita, I am an account officer in
Union Bank Plc. I am contacting
you for a very beneficial business of a huge
sum of money from a deceased
account.
I am aware that this letter has come to you
as a surprise as we have not
met before or handled any business deal in
the past.
Nevertheless, I have contacted you with good
faith and genuine intentions,
and I hope I can trust you with this fund
which I will explain to you
immediately I hear from you.
Can we do business? if interested kindly
respond to me through my personal
email address below To facilitate the
process of this transaction.
Regards,
Rita Graham.
Email: ritagraham777@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
