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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- q.han7@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Quan Han" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <q.han7@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 03:25:33 -0300
Subject: GOOD NEWS
Dear Friend,
My name is Mr. Quan Han, a bank credit officer with China Merchant Bank. I am contacting you to present a subtle offer which will need the help of a partner like you to complete successfully. I am in a difficult situation and I must immediately relocate certain sums of money.
Your role will be to:
[1]. Act as the Beneficiary of the funds.
[2]. Invest/Manage the funds.
[3]. Value of funds: (US) 19.7 Million.
Should you prefer I re-contact you with more express facts, kindly indicate your interest by emailing me via my private email address (q.han7@aol.com)
Also you must promise me that you will never betray me and my family after assisting us to claim this fund from the Bank.
Thank you and God bless you!
Quan Han
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Anti-fraud resources:
