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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- martins2joens@onet.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Steve" <MailCenter@unw.com>
Reply-To: martins2joens@onet.pl
Date: 6 Jun 2020 06:23:48 -0700
Subject: Re: YOUR ATM CARD
This is to inform you of your long overdue outstanding Payment in
our records. We saw your email address in our Central Computer
unit among the list of unpaid outstanding fund.
Your email appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a
part-payment of their overdue fund, Credited to Online Bank ATM
Card account and it has been approved already months ago.
However, we received an email from one (Mrs.Judith McCree) who
claims to be your next of kin and that you died in a car accident
last four months.
She has also submitted her contact information's to the
department incharge of your ATM Card as your inheritor.
We therefore wish to verify the authenticity of her claim
before we proceed with the delivery of this ATM CARD to her.
In order to resolve this problem, Please contact (Atm Counsellor
Office) immediately with your complete information as below for
the delivery of your ATM Card.
Contact Person: Dr Jones
Email Address: martins2joens@onet.pl
Your Full Names:
Contact Address:
Mobile Phone:
Occupation:
Age:
Yours Sincerely
Mrs Steve
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Anti-fraud resources:
